76 year-old male, increasing six month fall history

Parkinson disease

A shuffling gait, short steps, forward-flexed posture, is a typical finding in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

A shuffling gait with short steps and forward-flexed posture is an almost universal finding in patients with established Parkinson’s disease. In the later stages of the disease, the gait may be interrupted by periods of freezing up, and the patient may be unable to move forward. Other features of the disease include muscle rigidity, reduced facial expressions, and festination (inability to stop, once forward motion has been established).

Patients with sensory ataxia have a wide-based gait. Patients with a cerebellar lesion also have a wide-based gait, but their walking has a lurching and staggering quality. The sole of their foot hits the floor forcibly with a slapping sound, an indication of the loss of proprioception. Patients who have experienced hemiplegia following stroke may have a swinging gait.