Parkinsonian Gait
Seen commonly in Parkinson’s disease
Also called festinating gait
Key Features
Stooped / flexed posture
Head and neck bent forward
Reduced arm swing (often asymmetrical)
Short, shuffling steps
Difficulty initiating walking (start hesitation)
Freezing episodes feet seem “stuck to the floor”
Festination – progressively faster, shorter steps
En-bloc turning turns with multiple small steps
Reduced foot clearance – dragging of feet
Difficulty stopping once walking starts
Narrow-based gait
Associated Findings
Bradykinesia
Rigidity
Resting tremor
Postural instability
Clinical Tips
Pull test may show retropulsion
Patients may improve temporarily with visual or auditory cues
Increased risk of falls, especially while turning
Causes
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson-plus syndromes
Drug-induced parkinsonism
Easy Memory Aid
“Short, Shuffling, Stooped, Stuck”





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