Describe a typical gait pattern associated with spastic diplegia.

Describe a typical gait pattern associated with spastic diplegia.

• A. Trendelenburg gait with hip drop.
• B. Hemiplegic gait with leg out to side.
• C. Normal gait with mild toe-walking.
• D. Crouched gait with knee flexion, ankle equinus, hip flexion/adduction; reduced step length and increased energy cost.

Answer: (D)

Spastic diplegia often produces a crouched, bilateral gait pattern due to spasticity of the hip adductors, knee flexors, and ankle plantarflexors on both sides. This leads to knee and hip flexion in stance, ankle equinus (toe- or forefoot-walking), and hip flexion with adduction. The result is a forward-trunk posture to help forward progression, shortened step length, and higher energy cost because the limbs work in a less efficient, co-contracted pattern. The combination of knee flexion, hip flexion/adduction, and ankle equinus is characteristic of this type of CP gait, distinguishing it from unilateral patterns or simple toe-walking.

Spastic diplegia often produces a crouched, bilateral gait pattern due to spasticity of the hip adductors, knee flexors, and ankle plantarflexors on both sides. This leads to knee and hip flexion in stance, ankle equinus (toe- or forefoot-walking), and hip flexion with adduction. The result is a forward-trunk posture to help forward progression, shortened step length, and higher energy cost because the limbs work in a less efficient, co-contracted pattern. The combination of knee flexion, hip flexion/adduction, and ankle equinus is characteristic of this type of CP gait, distinguishing it from unilateral patterns or simple toe-walking.