Steppage gait (high stepping, neuropathic gait) is a form of gait abnormality characterised by foot drop or ankle equinus due to loss of dorsiflexion.1 The foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking, requiring someone to lift the leg higher than normal when walking.234
Foot drop can be caused by damage to the deep fibular nerve.5
Conditions associated with a steppage gait
- Foot drop
- Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease
- Polio
- Multiple sclerosis
- Syphilis
- Guillain–Barré syndrome
- Spinal disc herniation
- Anterior Compartment Muscle Atrophy
- Deep fibular nerve injury
- Spondylolisthesis
- Slipped Femoral Epiphysis
- ALS/PLS
References
References
- "Definition: steppage gait from Online Medical Dictionary".
- "Walking abnormalities". MedlinePlus. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- Med Terms
- GP Notebook
- Saint, Sanjay; Wiese, Jeff; Bent, Stephen (2006). Clinical clerkships: the answer book. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 219. ISBN 0-7817-3754-0.