New or untreated foot problems can lead to a variety of symptoms other than pain, and one of the most visibly notable symptoms is gait dysfunction. If your foot or ankle problem is causing you to walk with a limp or a hitch in your step, you and others around you may notice this gait abnormality. But what types of foot issues could cause you to knowingly or even unknowingly alter your gait? We explore five foot problems that could lead to gait dysfunction in today’s blog.
Foot Problems Causing Gait Issues
Let’s explore five foot or ankle conditions that can cause you to alter your gait to compensate for the issue.
1. Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis is typically most noticeable with our first few steps in the morning, but more moderate to severe cases can cause heel pain throughout the day. As you work to shift how stress is dispersed on your foot to protect your heal from strain, you may be forced to take on an unnatural gait.
2. Achilles Tendonitis – Achilles tendonitis is caused by inflammation of the Achilles tendon. While your gait may change as you work to protect the area from stress, your gait may also change as a result of new weakness and discomfort in the Achilles due to the tendon inflammation.
3. Arch Issues – If you have flat feet or high arches, your feet may take on an abnormally pronated or supinated position. This slight shift in foot positioning can also negatively impact your gait.
4. Bunions – A new or worsening bunion can also lead to gait abnormalities. A worsening bunion tends to be more painful as it progresses, which will have you walking in a manner to protect the area from stress. Oftentimes the big toe and the large joint at the base of the toe handle a fair amount of stress when you’re moving, so any shift to protect this area from stress will be noticeable as you walk.
5. Ankle Sprains – Finally, an ankle sprain will lead to gait dysfunction as you hobble along after a painful sprain. However, gait abnormalities can persist even after pain dissipates because of the presence of untreated ankle instability. If your supportive ankle ligaments can no longer handle certain stress patterns, your body will naturally begin to protect these ligaments when you’re moving, and it may do this by subtly altering your gait.
If you notice that your gait has been affected by a foot or ankle problem, don’t assume that the issue will go away on its own. Treat the underlying cause and work to normalize your gait so that additional problems don’t develop.
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