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Spastic gait
An abnormal type of gait (way of walking) in which the legs are weak and stiff, and in which there is no flexing at the knee and ankle. With each step, the leg rotates away from the body, then towards it, forming a half circle. The toes may also drag while walking. Sometimes the legs cross while the person walks, causing a scissor-like gait.
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Spastic gait is caused by one-sided, long-term muscle contractions. A contraction is shortening and thickening of the muscles. Several conditions can cause such long-term muscle contractions, such as head trauma, stroke, brain cancer, and multiple sclerosis. A stroke is a burst artery (a type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart) or a blockage of an artery in the brain. Cancer is an abnormal growth of new tissue characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormally structured cells that have a more primitive form. Multiple sclerosis (also known as MS) is a condition in which people develop multiple areas of abnormal patches (also known as plaques or sclerosis) in the brain and/or spinal cord (depending on the stage of the illness).
Doctors usually recommend that patients with spastic gait receive treatment from a physical therapist, at least in the beginning. The physical therapist can then teach the person exercises to do at home. For spastic gait, physical therapists usually recommend both active and passive movements. Active movements are ones the patient does by him/herself, whereas passive movements are movements assisted by others. |
The most important part of physical therapy for spastic gait is to strengthen any muscles that are weakened as a result of the spasticity. There are no specific exercises that are recommended for spastic gait. The exercises chosen will depend on the physical therapist and what the patient can tolerate. Depending on the patient, walking, swimming, and leg lifts can help. Leg lifts involve lying on one's back and lifting one or more legs in the air, holding it slightly off the ground for 10 seconds and then stopping. This is often repeated 10-20 times.
Slow, prolonged stretching can also treat spasticity because it helps maintain the full range of motion of a joint, preventing the muscles from shortening. A joint is a place where two bones contact each other. For the stretching activities to work, they need to done regularly, usually once or twice a day. Leg braces can help keep the foot aligned when the person stands and walks. If poor balance occurs, use of a cane or walker is generally recommended by doctors and physical therapists.
Spastic comes from the Greek word "spastikos", meaning "drawing in." Gait comes from the Old Norse word "geta" or "gata," meaning "a way." Put the two words together and you get "a way of drawing in." The "drawing in" part refers to muscle movements that shorten or are drawn in during a spasm.
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