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Walking Problems

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Diagnosis and Tests

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Summary

What are walking problems?

If you are like most people, you walk thousands of steps each day. You walk to do your daily activities, get around, and exercise. It's something that you usually don't think about. But for those people who have a problem with walking, daily life can be more difficult.

Walking problems may cause you to:

Walk with your head and neck bent over
Drag, drop, or shuffle your feet
Have irregular, jerky movements when walking
Take smaller steps
Waddle
Walk more slowly or stiffly

What causes walking problems?

The pattern of how you walk is called your gait. Many different diseases and conditions can affect your gait and lead to problems with walking. They include:

Abnormal development of the muscles or bones of your legs or feet
Arthritis of the hips, knees, ankles, or feet
Cerebellar disorders, which are disorders of the area of the brain that controls coordination and balance
Foot problems, including corns and calluses, sores, and warts
Infections
Injuries, such as fractures (broken bones), sprains, and tendinitis
Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease
Neurologic diseases, including multiple sclerosis and peripheral nerve disorders
Vision problems

How is the cause of a walking problem diagnosed?

To make a diagnosis, your health care provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. This will include checking your bones and muscles and doing a neurological exam. In some cases, you may have other tests, such as lab or imaging tests.

What are the treatments for walking problems?

Treatment of walking problems depends on the cause. If the cause is a medical condition, treating that condition often improves your walking. Some common types of treatments for walking problems may include:

Medicines
Mobility aids such as walkers and canes
Physical therapy
Special shoes, insoles, splints, or braces
Surgery

Start Here

Walking abnormalities (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Foot Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Foot Push-Up Test (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
That Pain in Your Back Could Be Linked to Your Feet (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)

Living With

Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Prescription Custom Orthotics and Shoe Inserts (American Podiatric Medical Association)

Specifics

Cavus Foot (High-Arched Foot) (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Chronic Ankle Instability (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Equinus (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Flexible Flatfoot (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Foot Drop Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Hallux Rigidus (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity (Flatfoot) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Tarsal Coalition (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Trouble Moving or Walking (Parkinson's Foundation) Also in Spanish
Walking (Gait) Difficulties (National Multiple Sclerosis Society)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Gait Apraxia (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Gait Ataxia (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Gait Disorders, Neurologic (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Find a Physical Therapist Near You (American Physical Therapy Association)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
Don't Ignore Your Kid's Heel Pain (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons)
Intoeing (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Out-Toeing (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Sever's Disease (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Toe Walking (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Toe Walking in Children (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Older Adults

Eldercare at Home: Mobility Problems (AGS Health in Aging Foundation)

Patient Handouts

Walking abnormalities (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

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MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

Walking abnormalities

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