The way in which an individual walks. Gait may be affected by inherited disorders; by illness, and especially neurological disorders; by injury; or by drugs and alcohol abuse. Children, as a rule, begin to walk between the ages of 12 and 18 months, having learned to stand before the end of the first year. If a child shows no ability to make such movements by 20 months, he or she should be checked to make sure there is no potential disabling condition present, such as CEREBRAL PALSY.

In hemiplegia, or PARALYSIS down one side of the body following a STROKE, the person drags the paralysed leg.

Steppage gait occurs in certain cases of alcoholic NEURITIS, tertiary SYPHILIS and other conditions where the muscles that raise the foot are weak so that the toes droop. The person bends the knee and lifts the foot high, so that the toes may clear obstacles on the ground. (See DROP FOOT.)

In LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA the sensations derived from the lower limbs are blunted, and consequently the movements of the legs are uncertain and the heels planted upon the ground with unnecessary force. When the person tries to turn or stands with the eyes shut, he or she may fall over. When they walk, they feel for the ground with a stick or keep their eyes constantly fixed upon it.

In spastic paralysis the limbs are moved with jerks. The foot first of all clings to the ground and then leaves it with a spasmodic movement, being raised much higher than is necessary.

In PARKINSONISM the movements are tremulous, and as the person takes very short steps, he or she has the peculiarity of appearing constantly to fall forwards, or to be chasing themselves.

In CHOREA the walk is bizarre and jerky, the affected child often seeming to leave one leg a step behind, and then, with a screwing movement on the other heel, go on again.

Psychologically based unusual gait is usually very striking (‘a funny walk’), quite different from that of any neurological condition. It tends to draw attention to the patient, and is worse when he or she is being watched.