From the Research
The medical term for a waddling gait is not precisely defined, but it is often described as a Trendelenburg gait or gluteal gait, characterized by an exaggerated side-to-side movement of the trunk and hips during walking, as noted in a study published in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation 1. This distinctive walking pattern typically occurs due to weakness in the hip abductor muscles, particularly the gluteus medius, or due to hip pain. Some common causes include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Muscular dystrophy
- Myopathies
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- Developmental hip disorders When a person has weakness in these muscles, they compensate by shifting their body weight over the affected hip during the stance phase of walking to reduce pain or compensate for instability, as discussed in a study on the use of electromyogram biofeedback to reduce Trendelenburg gait 2. This compensation creates the characteristic waddling appearance. Treatment depends on addressing the underlying cause, which may include physical therapy to strengthen hip muscles, pain management, or in some cases, surgical intervention, as suggested by recent advances in understanding post-stroke hemiplegic gait 3. Early diagnosis is important, especially in children, as some underlying conditions can progress if not properly managed, and a new perspective on understanding post-stroke hemiplegic gait has been proposed, with implications for management of hemiplegic gait 3. A sign-based approach to diagnosing neurological disorders of gait, balance, and posture has also been recommended, taking presenting signs as the starting point for a focused differential diagnosis and a tailored search into the underlying neurological syndrome 4. Additionally, trunk biomechanics during hemiplegic gait after stroke have been studied, with findings suggesting that patients walk with increased mediolateral trunk sway and larger sagittal motion of the lower trunk, and that specific exercise programs, assistive devices, and orthoses may be helpful in controlling these deficits 5.