Trendelenburg gait - overview. What causes this gait pattern?

Trendelenburg gait - overview. What causes this gait pattern?

• A. Gait pattern caused by weakness or impaired activation of the hip abductors on the stance limb, leading to pelvic drop on the swing side during single-leg stance.
• B. Gait pattern with toe-walking pattern in children.
• C. Gait pattern due to ankle proprioception deficiency.
• D. Gait pattern of hip adductor overactivity.

Answer: (B)

This gait pattern is caused by weakness or poor activation of the hip abductors (gluteus medius and gluteus minimus) on the leg that bears weight. When you stand on one leg, these muscles normally keep the pelvis level. If they’re weak, gravity pulls the pelvis toward the opposite side during single-leg stance, causing the pelvis to drop on the swing side and often a compensatory trunk lean. This is the hallmark of Trendelenburg gait and is commonly seen with weakness of the superior gluteal muscles or related nerve/hip issues. Toe-walking in children is a different pattern, typically unrelated to hip abductor strength. Ankle proprioception deficiency affects balance more generally, not specifically the contralateral pelvis drop. Hip adductor overactivity produces other gait abnormalities, not the characteristic pelvic drop seen with Trendelenburg gait.

This gait pattern is caused by weakness or poor activation of the hip abductors (gluteus medius and gluteus minimus) on the leg that bears weight. When you stand on one leg, these muscles normally keep the pelvis level. If they’re weak, gravity pulls the pelvis toward the opposite side during single-leg stance, causing the pelvis to drop on the swing side and often a compensatory trunk lean. This is the hallmark of Trendelenburg gait and is commonly seen with weakness of the superior gluteal muscles or related nerve/hip issues.

Toe-walking in children is a different pattern, typically unrelated to hip abductor strength. Ankle proprioception deficiency affects balance more generally, not specifically the contralateral pelvis drop. Hip adductor overactivity produces other gait abnormalities, not the characteristic pelvic drop seen with Trendelenburg gait.