Self-esteem and self-love 

Jumping gait in a child. Walking dysbasia or gait disturbance are causes of unsteadiness in the elderly. Walking with pronounced lordosis in the lumbar region

I'm sure you always pay attention to a beautiful figure, a beautiful walk. Have you ever wondered what exactly provides our beautiful gait?

Central nervous system: cerebral cortex, extrapyramidal and pyramidal systems, brain stem, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, cerebellum, eyes, vestibular apparatus of the inner ear and of course the structures that all this controls - the skeleton, bones, joints, muscles. Healthy listed structures, correct posture, smooth and symmetrical movements ensure a normal gait.

Gait is formed from childhood. Congenital dislocations of the hip joints or joint can subsequently lead to limb shortening and gait disturbance. Hereditary, degenerative, infectious diseases of the nervous system, manifested by muscle pathology, impaired tone (hypertonicity, hypotonicity, dystonia), paresis, hyperkinesis will also lead to impaired gait - cerebral palsy, myopathies, myotonia, Friedreich's disease, Strümpel's disease, Huntington's chorea, poliomyelitis .

Properly selected shoes will influence the formation of the correct gait. With tight shoes, the child will tighten his toes, the formation of the arch of the foot will be disturbed, the joints may be deformed, as a result - arthrosis of the joints and gait disturbance. Flat feet, clubfoot impair gait. Improper prolonged sitting at the table will lead to curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and impaired gait.

With proper walking, the torso should lean back slightly. The back should be kept straight, the chest - straightened, buttocks tightened. With each step, the feet should be in line with the toes turned outward. Keep your head slightly elevated. Look straight ahead or slightly up.

Damage to the peripheral nerves - peroneal and tibial - will lead to impaired gait. “Stepage” - when walking, the foot “slaps”, because rear flexion (flexion) is impossible and the foot hangs down. When walking, a patient with a lesion of the peroneal nerve tries to raise his leg higher (so as not to cling to the floor with his fingers), the foot hangs down, when lowering the leg resting on the heel, the foot slaps on the floor. Another such gait is called "cock". The peroneal nerve is affected in compression-ischemic, traumatic, toxic neuropathies. Compression - this means that you have compressed a nerve and / or blood vessels and ischemia has developed - circulatory failure. This is possible, for example, with prolonged sitting: “squatting” - repair, garden; in small buses on long journeys. Sports activities, very sound sleep in an awkward position, tight bandages, plaster splints can cause circulatory disorders in the nerves.

Damage to the tibial nerve makes it impossible to plantar flex the foot and toes and turn the foot inwards. At the same time, the patient cannot stand on the heel, the arch of the foot deepens, a "horse" foot is formed.

Atactic gait- the patient walks with legs wide apart, deviating to the sides (more often towards the affected hemisphere), as if balancing on an unstable deck, the movements of the arms and legs are not coordinated. Turning the body is difficult. This is a "drunken walk". The appearance of an atactic gait may indicate a violation of the vestibular apparatus, a violation of blood circulation in the vertebro-basilar basin of the brain, and problems in the cerebellum. Vascular diseases, intoxications, brain tumors can be manifested by atactic gait and even frequent falls.

Antalgic gait- with radicular pain syndromes of osteochondrosis, the patient walks, curving the spine (scoliosis appears), reducing the load on the diseased spine and thereby the severity of pain. With pain in the joints, the patient spares them, adapting the gait to reduce the pain syndrome - lameness appears, and with coxarthrosis, a specific "duck" gait - the patient rolls from foot to foot like a duck.

With damage to the extrapyramidal systems, with Parkinsonism develops akinetic-rigid syndrome- movements are constrained, muscle tone is increased, concordance of movements is impaired, the patient walks, bending over, tilting his head forward, bending his arms at the elbow joints, taking small steps, slowly "shuffling" on the floor. It is difficult for the patient to start moving, "disperse" and stop. When stopped, it continues for some time an unstable movement forward or to the side.

When chorea develops hyperkinetic-hypotonic syndrome with violent movements in the muscles of the trunk and limbs and periods of muscle weakness (hypotension). The patient walks, as if with a "dancing" gait (Huntington's Chorea, St. Vitus's dance).

When the pyramidal system is damaged in various diseases of the nervous system, paresis and paralysis of the limbs. So, after a stroke with hemiparesis, a characteristic Wernicke-Mann posture is formed: the paralyzed arm is brought to the body, bent at the elbow joint and the wrist, the fingers are bent, the paralyzed leg is maximally extended at the hip, knee, and ankle joints. When walking, the impression of an "elongated" leg is created. The patient, in order not to touch the floor with his toe, describes a semicircle with his foot - such a gait is called "circumducting". In milder cases, the patient limps, in the affected limb the muscle tone is increased and therefore the flexion in the joints when walking occurs to a lesser extent.

Some diseases of the nervous system can develop lower paraparesis- Weakness in both legs. For example, with multiple sclerosis, myelopathy, polyneuropathy (diabetic, alcoholic), Strümpel's disease. With these diseases, gait is also disturbed.

heavy gait- with swelling of the legs, varicose veins, circulatory disorders in the legs - a person stomps heavily, raising his baking legs with difficulty.

Gait disturbances are always a symptom of some disease. Even a common cold and asthenia changes gait. A lack of vitamin B12 can cause numbness in the legs and disturb the gait.

Which doctor to contact for gait disorders

For any violation of gait, you need to consult a doctor - a neurologist, traumatologist, therapist, otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist, angiosurgeon. It is necessary to be examined and treated for the underlying disease that caused gait disturbance or to correct the lifestyle, the habit of sitting at the table “cross-legged”, to diversify a sedentary lifestyle with physical education, swimming, fitness classes, water aerobics, walks. Useful courses of multivitamins of group B, massage.

Consultation of a doctor on the topic of gait disorders:

Question: how to sit at the computer correctly so that spinal scoliosis does not develop?
Answer:

Immediately after the baby is born, they check if he has hip dysplasia or congenital shortening of the hips or legs. If neonatologists missed defects, then an orthopedist or surgeon at a medical examination in 1 month will correct the situation. But the mother herself should pay attention to important signs: if the baby is placed on the back, and then its legs are bent so that the child’s feet stand on the changing table, then the knees should be at the same level. Asymmetric folds under the buttocks and on the hips should also be discussed with the doctor.

Output. Immobilization splints, pads, and stirrups fitted before 6 months of age should correct hip dysplasia, and surgery will lengthen the shortened portions.

2. Where do the knees go? Clubfoot in children

Clubfoot in a child can be a serious problem and a temporary phenomenon. In the first case, the child's foot (one or both) and the ankle are turned inward strongly, almost 90°. And you can notice this feature almost immediately after birth. The second situation is absolutely natural, by the age of 2 it corrects itself, but sometimes the process is delayed up to 3-4 years.

Output. The treatment of severe clubfoot in a child is started from 2 weeks of age. Usually they practice massage and physiotherapy exercises. If after six months there is no result, they think about the operation.

3. O or X?

In some children up to 3-4 years old, when walking, the legs are located in the letters O, X, or both knees look in different directions. It is important to ensure that after two years this feature does not worsen, there is no pain in the joints and discomfort when walking. The child manages to finally adapt to life in an upright state only by adolescence, which means that everything that happens before that fits into the concept of the norm.

Output. In any case, consultations with a specialist once every six months, massage and physiotherapy exercises will not interfere.

4. Weak support: flat-valgus or varus foot in a child

Doctors diagnose "flat feet" not earlier than 5 years, and before that they use the terms "flat-valgus foot" - the feet strongly "fall" on the inside, and "varus" - the outer edges serve as a support. The first deformation can develop into flat feet in a child. It becomes difficult for the baby to walk for a long time, and his new shoes are trampled on the inside in just 1-2 months. The second situation never leads to flat feet in a child, but it also gives an increased load on the joints of the legs and the spine, turning into at least a stoop.

Output. With timely correction with the help of physiotherapy, the defect can most often be eliminated in a few years.

5. What will tell the child's gait?

There are several abnormal gait patterns in children. One - the child leans on his toes, lifts and twists his heels outward, slightly bends his legs at the knee and hip joints, brings the hips together. The second is identified by dragging the right or left leg, as well as the arm bent and pressed to the body on the same side. At the next gait, the child is distinguished by excessive, inappropriate, pretentious movements of the limbs, for example, the knees rise high, and the feet “slap”.

Output. With any deviation from the norm, the baby should be shown to the surgeon, orthopedist and neurologist. Most of these features are associated with failures in the development of the brain or spinal cord and require timely adjustment.

Doctor's advice
If you notice that the baby, for no apparent reason (uncomfortable shoes), began to limp, drag his leg or take unusual postures when he sits, lies or stands, urgently contact a specialist - a surgeon or an orthopedist. The same should be done if the joints are swollen and hot to the touch. Sometimes colds and flu cause inflammation in the musculoskeletal system. And successful recovery depends on how quickly treatment is started. Until the child is examined, it is important to minimize the load on the affected leg.

6. The child's feet sweat

Output. Traditional medicine offers many methods for treating sweaty feet in children - foot baths with infusions of oak bark, sage, string, hardening (walking barefoot, dousing with cold water), foot massage, various ointments and powders.

7. Calf pain

Parents need to pay due attention to children's complaints of pain in the lower extremities, ask where exactly and what is happening, monitor changes in the child's gait. Most of the complaints are due to bruises and sprains during active games. Smaller - becomes the result of uneven growth of bone and muscle tissue. Zones of more intensive development are ahead of those that are lagging behind, causing them discomfort. One fifth of children experience leg pain in the evening. The blood circulates well during the day, but at night the blood flow is reduced and pain occurs. A light massage should relieve the discomfort.

Output. As soon as the child reported pain in the legs, it is necessary to examine him. Pay attention to general well-being, appetite, body temperature, mood. However, not all cases are so harmless, and it is better to discuss the situation with a doctor.

8. Orthopedic shoes for children

According to statistics, 95% of children are born with healthy legs, but with age, about a third of them acquire various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. With the help of orthopedic shoes for children, many defects in the bones and joints of the legs can be corrected. You can’t buy such things without a doctor’s prescription, you can harm the proper development of the child’s feet or aggravate existing problems.

Output. The best way to correct with the help of orthopedic shoes for children is flat feet in a child, as well as valgus and varus deformities of the feet.

9. Already in heels?

Actress Katie Holmes and model Heidi Klum caused a public outcry when they allowed their 4-year-old daughters to wear high-heeled shoes. Such antics have been called "parental failure." According to experts, the consequences of such a violation are sprains and curvature of the shape of the foot in a child, as well as spinal deformity, which will inevitably lead to malfunctions in the internal organs.

Output. Shoes of fashionistas under 7 years old should have a heel no higher than 5–7 mm.

10. Put on shoes! Proper footwear for toddlers

The first shoes are put on as soon as the baby begins to learn to walk. Children's first shoes should have a high, stiff heel counter, arch support, and a roomy toe that doesn't compress the forefoot.

Output. Buying the first shoes for a child is a must-have with him. We suggest the following course of action. Let the baby put on an update and walk a little in it, and you watch if his gait has changed.

Charging game for legs
A good prevention of flat-valgus deformity and flat feet can be simple gymnastics, which can easily be turned into a fun game. Exercises should be performed daily, 5-7 times each.
Undress the baby and offer him:
* alternately and synchronously bend and straighten the toes on each leg;
* rotate feet clockwise and counterclockwise;
* walk on toes, heels and leaning on the outer part of the foot;
* collect small objects from the floor with your toes: pebbles, balls, parts from a designer with a diameter of 3-4 cm (a complicated version of this exercise looks like this: scatter small objects on the floor, cover them with a scarf and invite the baby to collect everything without removing the cover);
* sitting on a chair, alternately roll a tennis ball or a gymnastic stick with your right or left foot;
* walk slowly, holding a tennis ball between the feet;
* stand, holding the hands of an adult, on a fitball, trying to maintain balance;
* walk on a narrow log and climb the rungs of a rope ladder.

What measures do parents not take to wean their child from walking on tiptoe! Some strictly forbid the baby to rise on his toes, others begin to actively drive the baby to the doctors, take tests and look for the disease that is guilty of everything. And all this is because in this way of moving adults necessarily see some kind of “abnormality”.

With complaints that the child walks on tiptoes, parents also turn to the famous doctor Evgeny Komarovsky, who gladly explains what such a gait can mean and how parents should react to it.

Causes

Most often, tiptoeing is not a sign of any pathology, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. For children under the age of 2, episodic attempts to walk on tiptoes are an absolute norm, which should not worry mom and dad in any way.

Anatomically, this phenomenon can be explained by the fact that in children, even those who have not yet begun to walk at all, the calf muscle is quite developed. And when the baby gets up on its feet and tries to take the first independent steps, it is the tone in this calf region that can easily put the child on tiptoe. There is nothing to worry about, because as the rest of the muscles develop, the calves will be less muscular, and the foot will take the correct position when walking.

Quite often, parents themselves are to blame for the fact that the baby walks on tiptoes. This may be due to the fact that from a very early age, sometimes even before 6 months, they begin to use devices such as walkers. Dr. Komarovsky spoke about the dangers of these devices from the point of view of the load on the immature spine more than once.

There is another disadvantage in their use - the baby in the walker relies on socks. He does not always reach the floor, and then it is quite difficult for him to get used to the fact that you can lean on the foot in some other way. In such a situation, according to Yevgeny Komarovsky, the child then needs to be retrained, to instill in him a new useful habit of walking correctly.

However, not all 100% of children who walk on their toes have such harmless reasons for walking. There are situations when tiptoeing is a sign of one of the serious neurological disordersassociated with impaired muscle tone and pathologies of the central nervous system:

  • muscular dystonia;
  • pyramidal insufficiency.

But when a child has one of these diseases, walking on toes will obviously not be the only symptom. In addition, most likely, parents learn about the disease much earlier than the baby begins to walk. And therefore, if at 2-3 years old the child feels good, nothing hurts him, nothing bothers him, and the only thing that parents complain about is walking on toes, then there is no reason to worry, says Yevgeny Komarovsky.

Such a child does not need treatment, you can not torment him and not drive him to numerous doctor's offices.

Toddlers also have reasons for walking on their toes that are of a different nature - psychological. The peanut sees that he is being praised for the fact that he has grown up, that he is already big. Naturally, he wants to be even bigger and taller, and therefore he rises on his toes from time to time. Often such a gait is characteristic of children who are inquisitive, very mobile, hasty, impressionable, who are always in a hurry and running somewhere.

How to correct gait?

If the child has no pathologies, as well as neurological diagnoses, then the parents may face the question of how to correct the baby's gait. Evgeny Komarovsky claims that up to 3 years there is no need to do this purposefully. But some measures taken by parents will help the child quickly master the correct foot setting skills:

  • you can buy shoes for your child that will fix the leg well. She should have closed toes and a firm heel. Evgeny Komarovsky advises choosing models that have a small heel - this will additionally help in the prevention of flat feet. It is good if the shoes are tightly fastened with Velcro or laces, fixing the leg in one position. No special orthopedic shoes are required when walking on toes;
  • more time should be devoted to active walks in the fresh air, associated with walking, running, jumping. It’s great if the kid learns to ride a bike, because at the same time he will have to rely on his entire foot;
  • at home and in the yard (if the family lives in a private house), the child should walk barefoot more often;
  • with a pronounced habit of tiptoeing, you can do physiotherapy exercises, for this it is enough to contact your local pediatrician, who will give a referral to the exercise therapy room;
  • a child with the habit of walking on toes must definitely do a daily restorative massage. To massage the legs and feet, you should consult with a massage therapist to show the points for acupressure, which allows you to effectively relax the calf muscles and stimulate others.

About treatment

Unfortunately, the reality is, says Yevgeny Komarovsky, that a mother who goes to the local doctor with complaints that the child walks on tiptoes will most likely receive recommendations to start giving medication to her child. There is nothing wrong with the doctor prescribing vitamins and massage.

But often the child is prescribed not so harmless methods of treatment. So, nootropic drugs, vascular, sedatives can be recommended. Evgeny Komarovsky advises avoiding their use without an obvious reason, that is, the presence of a serious (often congenital) neurological disease. These medicines have a lot of side effects, and a healthy child who just doesn’t walk the way his mother wants, they are completely unnecessary.

For more information about this problem, see a short video by Dr. Komarovsky.

Steps, on the one hand, are the usual daily movement, on the other hand, this is the most complex process of the activity of the central nervous system, brain, muscles, skeletal system, organs of vision and inner ear. But sometimes gait disturbances begin. Let's see why they happen. But let's start with the symptoms for which you should consult a specialist.

Symptoms

Gait disturbance is scientifically called dysbasia. It is expressed in the following symptoms:
  • difficulty climbing stairs;
  • reversals are difficult;
  • twitching, no confidence in the legs;
  • regular appearance of a sensation of wooden muscles;
  • constant stumbling, falling and collision with the environment;
  • significant physical exhaustion, resulting in muscle weakness.
  • it is impossible to bend the joints normally.
Now consider the main causes of this disease.

Causes

Dysbasia can be caused by various diseases, some of which are not related to the musculoskeletal system.

It is customary to distinguish 2 main prerequisites for gait disturbance:

  • due to the anatomy of the human body;
  • caused by neurology.
Anatomical reasons include:
  • unequal legs;
  • pain syndrome;
  • hip anteversion.
Neurological include:
  • deterioration of the blood circulation of the brain;
  • peripheral neuropathy;
  • dysfunction of the cerebellum;
  • paralysis of the peroneal nerve;
  • cerebral paralysis;
  • Parkinson's disease;
  • sclerosis;
  • disorders in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Important! The most common cause of dysbasia are various diseases of the central nervous system. Often they are generated by uncontrolled consumption of sedatives, alcoholic beverages, and drugs.


Sometimes dysbasia is associated with a lack of B vitamins, in particular B 12. When they are not enough in the body, the legs and arms become numb, the balance is disturbed.

Problems with stability, loss of sensation in the hands and feet also occur in people with diabetes.



In the older generation with impaired vision, there may be a deterioration in gait. It should be understood that we are talking about a strong degree of myopia.

Also, gait disturbance can be associated with infections in the inner ear. They cause loss of balance.

Kinds

In general, the concept of dysbasia involves gait disturbances in diseases that have arisen at different levels of the musculoskeletal system. Dysbasia can manifest itself in different ways. But still its manifestations can be structured.

It is divided into the following types:

  • atactic;
  • hemiparetic;
  • parasympathetic;
  • spastic-atactic;
  • hypokinetic;
  • apraxia (frontal dysbasia);
  • idiopathic senile dysbasia;
  • peroneal walking;
  • "duck" gait;
  • dysbasia in diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
  • violation of movements with mental disability, psychogenic disorders, epilepsy.

Additional Information. The concept of astasia-abasia is often used to refer to neurological diseases. This means that both problems with balance and walking.


Let us consider in more detail some types of dysbasia.

Hemiplegic walking characteristic of spastic hemiparesis. In advanced situations, there is a deformed position of the arms and legs, namely, the shoulder turns inward, and the rest of the arm from the elbow to the fingertips on the arm is bent, the leg, on the contrary, is unbent at the knee. The movement of the injured leg begins with the fact that the thigh is retracted and makes a circular motion, while the body is directed in the other direction.

In simpler variants of the disease, the hand is in its usual position, but when moving it remains static. It is difficult for the patient to bend the leg, while it is turned outward. Such a gait often remains as a consequence of a stroke.

Paraparetic walking characterized by the fact that the lower limbs are difficult to rearrange, there is tension, as in hemiparesis, movements are carried out in a circle. In most patients, the lower limbs cross like scissors.

This gait is often found with problems with the spinal cord and cerebral palsy in children.

"Cock" gait expressed in insufficient, poor work of the foot from the back. When the foot moves completely or some part of it hangs down, in this regard, the person must put the foot higher so that the toes do not touch the floor surface.

Violation on one leg occurs with radiculopathy, pinching of the sciatic or peroneal nerve. On two legs - with polyneuropathy, as well as radiculopathy.

"Duck" gait due to weakness of some muscles of the lower extremities. This situation often worries with myopia, in addition, with damage to the neuromuscular synapse or spinal amyotrophy.

Due to great weakness, it is difficult to raise the leg from the floor, this can only be done by tilting the body, the rotation of the pelvis ensures the movement of the leg forward. This disease usually affects both legs, so a person seems to fall to the right, then to the left when walking.

How to fix the "duck" gait (video)


For a more detailed analysis of the "duck" gait, we recommend watching the following video. It analyzes in detail the question of how to correct the "duck" gait.


parkinsonian walking manifested in hunchback, legs and arms half-bent, tremor (trembling) is often visible. The first step is to lean forward. Then the turn comes for small, shuffling steps. At the same time, the speed of movement is constantly increasing, the body is ahead of the legs. Because of this, the patient constantly falls.

apraxic gait characterized by duality. On the one hand, the patient easily performs movements. But when asked to perform some movement, he cannot move for a long time. This is caused by damage to the frontal lobe, as a result of which the planning and execution of a number of movements is difficult for the patient.

Choreoathetous gait characterized by the fact that measured, calm walking is violated by sharp, involuntary movements. It turns out a loose gait.

For cerebellar gait a too wide step is characteristic, while the speed and length of the steps itself is constantly changing. This walk is also called drunk.

Such a patient may lose balance when changing posture. But if he closes his eyes, he can walk. Walking with this disorder can be both slow and fast, but always with a rhythm failure.

If it's about sensory ataxia, then walking with her is similar to cerebellar. But as soon as you close your eyes, the patient immediately loses his balance.

vestibular ataxia is that a person constantly rolls either to the right or to the left. And this happens both in motion and in static.

During the period of hysteria, the following occurs. The patient keeps his balance well, walks smoothly if he is distracted by something. But then there is a demonstrative fall.

Diagnostics

Since the causes of dysbasia are very different, you may need the help of various specialists, such as a neurologist, traumatologist, orthopedist, otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist, surgeon. You should start with a therapist who will collect an anamnesis and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist for further treatment.

The so-called duck walk can be a sign of serious diseases of the hip joints. In this article we will talk about what kind of diseases this pathology can be a sign of in adults and children. And also consider the reasons for the appearance of such a gait in pregnant women.

Causes of pathology in adults

"Duck gait" is characteristic of diseases in particular coxarthrosis.

This disease is chronic and leads to the gradual destruction of the bone tissue that forms the hip joints. There are many reasons for the pathology, but the main one is considered to be permanent injury to the musculoskeletal system. The development of the disease leads to the fact that the joint space begins to narrow. In the last stages of the disease, it may disappear completely.

In adults, the “duck gait” (we will discuss the causes of the disease in children below) can be caused mainly only by coxarthrosis. This pathology can develop in people of any age, with the exception of very young children. Men suffer from it more often than women. This is due to the fact that their physical activity is usually higher. Elderly people are most susceptible to coxarthrosis. At this age, tissue nutrition begins to break down, and the body's ability to recover decreases.

How does coxarthrosis develop?

So, "duck gait" in which disease appears in adults? Basically, with coxarthrosis, since only the destruction of the joints can become its cause. But how does it happen and where does it start? How not to start the process and start treatment on time?

Regardless of what caused the appearance of the disease, it will always develop according to the same pattern. Healthy joint surfaces always correspond to each other, so that the load is distributed evenly. However, due to various harmful effects, the main component of the articular cavity is deformed. This leads to a violation of the congruence of the articular surfaces. And the consequence of this is an uneven distribution of the load on the joint during movement. That part of the cartilage, which accounts for most of the weight, gradually deforms and even cracks. And the surface of the joints becomes rough and uneven.

This process entails compensatory reactions. First, cartilage tissue begins to grow in the damaged area. If the load does not decrease, then it gradually dies, and bone is formed in its place. This leads to the formation of osteophytes (bone outgrowths), which gradually fill the joint. Around this time, the “duck walk” appears. It indicates an advanced state of the disease. If you do not start its treatment in time, then the joints can finally lose their mobility.

Causes of the disease

The cause of coxarthrosis can be:

  • Degenerative senile changes.
  • Dysplasia is a congenital pathology (we will talk about it in more detail below).
  • Injuries.
  • Infectious diseases that cause damage to the musculoskeletal system.
  • Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head.
  • Perthes disease.

There is also idiopathic coxarthrosis, the cause of which is still unknown to medicine.

Symptoms accompanying joint destruction

The danger of coxarthrosis is that it is diagnosed already in the later stages. The fact is that in the affected areas there is no swelling of tissues, various swellings, and so on.

We list the main symptoms of the disease:

  • Limitation of joint mobility - this sign appears quite early, but it can also be a symptom of another disease. It is caused by narrowing of the joint space.
  • A distinct "crunch". Appears due to friction of the joints against each other. As the disease develops, the volume of the sound emitted will increase.
  • Pain sensations. They appear due to damage to intra-articular structures and a decrease in the amount of intra-articular fluid. The stronger the friction, the more painful it will be for the patient.
  • Muscle spasms. Occur due to the weakening of the articular bags.
  • Shortening of the affected leg. Appears in the later stages. The leg on the side of the affected joint may be shorter than the healthy one by 1-2 cm.
  • "Duck walk" is another symptom that appears in the later stages. And it belongs to the extremely unfavorable signs. The reason for the appearance is that a person, due to changes, can no longer maintain balance with the correct position of the legs. Gradually, the patient simply physically loses the ability to straighten the knee joints and stand up straight.

How to identify the disease before the "duck walk" appears

"Duck gait" in itself is a serious clinical sign for diagnosis. But at this stage, the treatment will already be ineffective, so it is better to start it much earlier. And for this you need to diagnose coxarthrosis at an earlier stage. To do this, there are a number of methods that should be used when the first signs appear. We list the main diagnostic tools:

  • Computed tomography is much more effective than conventional x-rays, as it allows you to obtain information about the quantity and quality of articular tissue.
  • X-ray studies.
  • Leg length matching - this method is only suitable for the later stages, when serious degenerative changes in the joints have occurred.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging.

Characteristics of gait in coxarthrosis

With this pathology, patients have two options for changing gait. The first appears when only one joint is affected, the second - when two are diseased. The last option is called the "duck walk". Let's take a closer look at what is happening at this moment with the joints.

So, the wrong hike appears after the bone tissue in the joint cavities began to crack. At this moment, an "adductor contracture" begins to form, that is, the patient's legs take a slightly bent position inwards. And the patient can no longer return to normal on his own. During movement, a person is forced to transfer the weight of the entire body from one leg to another. This is accompanied by rocking movements from side to side. That is why the gait was popularly called "duck".

However, such a serious change in the position of the musculoskeletal system is already characteristic of advanced stages of the disease. What is especially dangerous, such a transfer of the weight of the body leads to a curvature of the spine and damage to the knee joints. Therefore, doctors advise using crutches or canes (required two) to reduce stress.

"Duck walk" during pregnancy

Changing the gait of a woman during pregnancy has nothing to do with coxarthrosis, and completely different reasons cause it. Usually the gait changes in late pregnancy, the eighth or ninth month. Women really begin to spread their legs wide and at the same time roll over from one leg to another a little.

But still, let's find out the reasons for such changes. Of course, they depend on the physiological changes that occur in the female body:

  • Weight gain, and therefore, an increase in the load on the spinal column. The reason for this is the lower back pain, which pregnant women so often complain about.
  • There is a shift in the center of gravity. Pregnant women are a little disoriented in space, to which, of course, the body reacts reflexively and slightly changes its gait for greater stability.
  • When approaching childbirth, the joints of the pelvis become mobile.

In this case, there should be no pain in the hip joints. If they appear, then we can talk about symphysis, then you need to urgently consult a doctor. Otherwise, nothing bad happens. Change in gait is a natural process.

What should pregnant women do when a "duck walk" appears?

"Duck walk" in women can be a real psychological problem. Future mothers are already emotionally vulnerable, and such a huge, from their point of view, flaw deprives them of any attractiveness. However, do not despair. As polls show, such a gait of pregnant women causes only tenderness and a lot of positive emotions in others.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer the question of how to get rid of the "duck walk" during pregnancy. Will have to wait for the birth. As soon as the child is born, the old gait will return to you. A bandage can slightly alleviate the situation, which will reduce the load on the spine. But it will not bring any cardinal changes.

"Duck walk" in a child

The cause of pathology (dysbasia) in a child may be orthopedic or neurological changes. These changes can be caused by diseases of the central nervous system and peripheral, as well as diseases and congenital defects of the joints. There are more than 20 variants of gait disturbance, but "duck" is the most common.

This type of pathology is characterized by the shifting from foot to foot already described above. And the reason for its appearance are changes in the hip joints, accompanied by pain. Such a gait not only causes discomfort, but also leads to other disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Causes of "duck walk" in children

In 90% of cases, a “duck gait” appears in a child with dysplasia, pathological changes in the hip joints. This disease leads to pseudoarthrosis and chronic dislocations.

Dysplasia is a very common condition affecting 3% of all newborns. And in 80% of all cases, girls suffer from the disease. If the pathology was discovered in infancy, you can try to fix it with the help of special bandages.

Also, inflammation in the nerves of the lumbosacral plexus or sacroiliac joint can become the cause of the "duck walk".

Treatment of children

A “duck walk” in a child indicates the presence of a rather serious deviation that needs to be diagnosed and treated.

The therapeutic complex will depend only on the cause of the disease. As noted above, in some cases, with early diagnosis, it is possible to completely get rid of such a gait. But it all depends on the specific case, the speed of assistance and the qualifications of the specialists who prescribe the treatment.

Gait Correction Exercises

Exercises to correct the "duck walk" in case of illness should be carried out only after consulting with your doctor. Here we do not consider cases with pregnant women and children, since this is a completely different category, and the exercise therapy complex should be developed individually for them.

  • Lie on your back, relax, begin to slowly alternately bend your legs at the hip and knee joints, trying to press your knee to your chest.
  • Lie on your stomach. Raise your right leg, then your left, then both. In this case, the legs should be straight and not bend at the knee joints.
  • Lie on your back and start spreading your legs to the sides, returning to the starting position.

These exercises are intended not to load the diseased joint, but to develop it. No need to rush, do all the tasks very slowly. Don't overload your legs. If pain occurs, the complex must be interrupted. Don't do all the exercises at once. First master the first, then in a couple of days connect the second and so on. Gradually, you can increase the number of approaches, but only in the absence of discomfort in the joints. It will take a lot of patience and perseverance, but the result is worth the effort.