Unsteady Gait Health Article

Definition

Unsteady gait is a problem with walking in a coordinated manner maintaining postural control.

Alternative Names

Unsteady when walking, unstable when walking, unstable gait, instability of gait, disequibrilium when walking, disequilibrium when walking.

Synopsis

Unsteady gait is a symptom of instability while walking. Problems with walking can be due to disease or injury to the legs, feet, spine, or brain. Unsteady gait may be a direct effect of medications, illicit drugs, or alcohol, be due to a balance problem due to a problem caused by a metabolic disorder, stroke or other brain disorder, or represent a balance problem due to an injury or disease of the inner ear.

Associated Diagnoses

• Trauma
• Foot problems
• Alcohol intoxication
• Epilepsy
• Middle ear infection
• Decompression sickness
• Arterial air embolism
• Hypothermia
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Head injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack
• Brain tumor
• Neuroblastoma
• Neurofibromatosis 2
• Parkinson’s disease
• Partial seizures
• Reye’s syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Seizures
• Snake bites
• Tay-Sachs Disease
• Tetanus
• Side effects of medications
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency
• Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome
• Huntington’s chorea
• Restless legs syndrome

Diagnosis and Treatment

A thorough evaluation by a physician is required for unsteady gait and referral to a specialist will likely be needed. A complete history and physical will be required as well as a number of diagnostic and laboratory studies. The treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

Call your provider:

Whenever someone is manifesting signs of unsteady gait. It may be an indication of a serious medical or psychiatric problem.