First, let's take a look at some of the common characteristics of the MS gait pattern that you might be experiencing: You may walk more slowly, with shorter steps. You may lack in confidence when you walk – leading to hesitation and stumbling. You might feel unsteady when turning or walking.
many people with ms will experience difficulty with walking, which is also called ambulation. The term “gait” refers more specifically to the manner or pattern of walking (for example “unsteady gait”).
Some may notice changes in the way they walk, whereas others may notice changes in their walking speed or step length. Some of the most commonly reported walking difficulties in MS include: Difficulty walking downstairs. Taking slower, shorter steps.
The present work suggests that people with MS have a decrease in speed and stride length, as well as an increase in double-stance intervals during gait.
Gait dysfunction in MS is distinguished by decreased gait speed, walking endurance, step length, cadence and joint motion, as well as increased metabolic cost of walking and increased variability of gait.
Some common examples of an abnormal gait include: Limping. Dragging your toes. Shuffling your feet.
Erythromelalgia is a painful MS symptom that affects the feet. The feet may feel tight or swollen and have a burning sensation. Some remedies for hot feet include: wearing pressure socks.
An unsteady, staggering gait is described as an ataxic gait because walking is uncoordinated and appears to be 'not ordered'. Many motor activities may be described as ataxic if they appear to others, or are perceived by patients, as uncoordinated.
Losing your balance while walking, or feeling imbalanced, can result from: Vestibular problems. Abnormalities in your inner ear can cause a sensation of a floating or heavy head and unsteadiness in the dark. Nerve damage to your legs (peripheral neuropathy).
Shuffling gait is characterized by short steps and feet that slide along the ground rather than fully clear the floor. This gait commonly occurs with Parkinson's disease and conditions that affect nerves and muscles in the legs.
Normal walking speed for an adult ranges from 1.0 to 1.6 meters a second and is a component of the spatial-temporal sequence of inputs that contributes to the characteristic sensorimotor experience of walking.
Difficulty in walking — also known as problems with gait — is among the most common mobility limitations in MS.
MS can cause a wide range of symptoms that can have an effect on balance, including difficulties with coordination, tremor and muscle weakness, stiffness or spasms.
Those symptoms include loss of vision in an eye, loss of power in an arm or leg or a rising sense of numbness in the legs. Other common symptoms associated with MS include spasms, fatigue, depression, incontinence issues, sexual dysfunction, and walking difficulties.
The muscle weakness that you are feeling can be directly linked to MS because the damage to your nerves can disrupt signals to the muscles. This nerve damage makes it hard to move your muscles and leads to a heavy feeling in your legs (or other areas of your body).
A person with benign MS will have few symptoms or loss of ability after having MS for about 15 years, while most people with MS would be expected to have some degree of disability after that amount of time, particularly if their MS went untreated.
Muscle weakness is commonly due to lack of exercise, ageing, muscle injury or pregnancy. It can also occur with long-term conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. There are many other possible causes, which include stroke, multiple sclerosis, depression, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME).
Foot drop is when you have difficulty lifting the front part of your foot. This may cause you to drag your foot when you walk. Foot drop, also called drop foot, can be caused by a problem with the muscles, nerves, or anatomy of your foot or leg.
The most common causes of imbalance without dizziness are related to dysfunction of the muscles, joints and peripheral nerves (proprioceptive system), or the central nervous system (brain). People with bilateral vestibulopathy have balance issues but no dizziness if the damage affects both ears at the same time.
Cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Charcot Marie Tooth disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, spinal muscular atrophy, peroneal neuropathy, and microvascular white-matter disease all cause significant gait disabilities. Electrolyte disorders include hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia can cause gait disorders.
Spastic gait -- a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by a long muscle contraction on one side. Scissoring gait -- legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees like crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement. A scissoring gait is often a more severe form of a spastic gait.
Numbness or tingling: “Numbness and tingling — especially that comes and goes in the hands or feet — is a common symptom,” says Dr. Giesser.
Nail problems are common, and they are not usually serious. If a person has multiple sclerosis (MS), nail problems can cause pain or discomfort. While nail issues are not directly related to the disease, determining the cause may help prevent a person with MS from experiencing further discomfort.