What disease causes walking problems? Understanding gait disorders

September 21, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, gait and balance disorders affect millions, particularly older adults. This reflects the complex nature of human mobility, where identifying what disease causes walking problems requires examining multiple potential systems, including the nervous, musculoskeletal, and vascular.

Quick Summary

Walking problems can stem from various conditions, including neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis, musculoskeletal issues such as arthritis and spinal stenosis, and vascular or systemic problems like peripheral artery disease. A proper diagnosis is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Key Points

Diverse Causes: Walking problems are not caused by a single disease but can stem from neurological, musculoskeletal, and systemic issues.
Neurological Conditions: Diseases like Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and stroke can affect muscle control and coordination, leading to distinct gait abnormalities.
Musculoskeletal Issues: Pain and stiffness from arthritis, back problems like spinal stenosis, and muscle weakness from conditions such as muscular dystrophy can directly impact mobility.
Systemic and Vascular Problems: Broader health issues, including peripheral artery disease and certain vitamin deficiencies, can also cause walking difficulties.
Importance of Diagnosis: Early and accurate diagnosis by a healthcare professional is crucial for effective treatment and preventing further mobility decline.
Many Potential Treatments: Management depends on the cause and may involve physical therapy, medications, or surgical interventions.

The Complex System of Human Gait

Human gait, or the manner of walking, is a complex process controlled by a seamless coordination of the nervous system, muscles, and bones. When one of these systems is compromised by a disease, the result can be a noticeable walking abnormality or gait disorder. These issues can range from minor discomfort and shuffling to severe instability and coordination loss, affecting an individual's independence and increasing the risk of falls. Understanding the potential root causes is the first step toward finding a solution.

Neurological Conditions Affecting Walking

The nervous system plays a critical role in controlling muscle movements, coordination, and balance. Damage or dysfunction in the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves can directly impact a person's ability to walk normally.

Parkinson's Disease

One of the most well-known movement disorders, Parkinson's disease often causes a characteristic propulsive or shuffling gait. The hallmarks include a stooped posture, reduced arm swing, and difficulty initiating or stopping steps. As the disease progresses, patients may experience "freezing," where they feel as if their feet are stuck to the floor.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

As a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, MS can cause a variety of walking problems. The immune system attacks the protective sheath covering nerve fibers, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, spasticity (stiffness), and balance issues. This can result in an uneven or spastic gait, sometimes with one leg dragging or swinging in a semicircular motion.

Stroke

A stroke damages parts of the brain that control movement and balance, frequently causing weakness on one side of the body. This can lead to a hemiplegic gait, where the affected leg is stiff and swings outward in an arc. Physical therapy is often a key part of recovery to regain and retrain motor control.

Ataxia

Ataxia refers to a loss of muscle control or coordination. Cerebellar ataxia, caused by damage to the cerebellum in the brain, leads to an unsteady, wide-based, and staggering gait. Sensory ataxia, often caused by peripheral neuropathy or dorsal column damage, can also cause an unsteady walk, particularly when vision is impaired.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Damage to peripheral nerves, often a complication of diabetes, can lead to foot drop, where the muscles that lift the front of the foot are weakened. This results in a high-stepping or steppage gait, where the person lifts their leg higher to avoid dragging their toes.

Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Problems

Beyond the nervous system, many issues directly related to the joints, muscles, and bones can cause difficulty walking.

Arthritis

Pain and inflammation from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in the hips, knees, or feet, can force a person to alter their gait to compensate for the discomfort. This can lead to a protective or antalgic gait, where the person limps to minimize the time and pressure on the painful joint.

Back Problems

Spinal conditions like herniated discs or spinal stenosis can compress the nerves in the lower back, causing pain, weakness, or numbness in the legs. This can result in a shuffling gait or a lurching motion as the person tries to alleviate pressure on the affected nerve.

Muscular Dystrophy

This group of inherited disorders causes progressive muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue. The resulting weakness in the hip and thigh muscles can lead to a distinctive waddling gait.

Congenital Conditions

Diseases present from birth, such as cerebral palsy, can affect muscle tone and coordination. This can cause various gait abnormalities, including a scissoring gait or crouching gait, where the knees and hips are bent.

Systemic, Vascular, and Other Causes

Sometimes, walking problems are a symptom of a broader issue affecting the entire body, not just the nervous or musculoskeletal systems.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

In PAD, narrowed arteries in the legs reduce blood flow to the muscles. This can cause pain or cramping in the calves during walking, a condition called claudication, which forces the person to stop and rest.

Nutritional Deficiencies

A severe deficiency of certain vitamins, such as Vitamin B12, can damage the nervous system and lead to balance issues and walking difficulties.

Other Factors

Age: Simple age-related changes can lead to a slower, more cautious walking style.
Medications: Certain drugs, like sedatives or some antipsychotics, can have side effects that affect balance and motor control.
Infections: Some infections, such as those caused by Lyme disease or syphilis, can affect the nervous system and disrupt normal gait.

Comparing Causes of Walking Problems


Feature	Neurological Causes	Musculoskeletal Causes
Primary Mechanism	Dysfunction of the brain, spinal cord, or nerves controlling movement.	Pain, weakness, or structural issues in the joints, muscles, or bones.
Associated Symptoms	Tremors, rigidity, numbness, poor coordination, spasticity.	Localized pain, inflammation, stiffness, limited range of motion.
Gait Type Examples	Shuffling (Parkinson's), unsteady (Ataxia), dragging (Stroke), high-stepping (Neuropathy).	Limping (Arthritis), waddling (Muscular Dystrophy), shifting to relieve pain.
Diagnostic Tools	MRI, CT scan, nerve conduction studies, neurological exam.	X-rays, joint examinations, physical examination, MRI for soft tissue.
Treatment Focus	Managing symptoms, physical therapy, medication to address nerve function.	Pain management, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, surgery (if needed).

Diagnosis and When to Seek Medical Help

Experiencing a change in your walking pattern warrants a visit to a healthcare professional. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and potentially diagnostic tests like an MRI, CT scan, or nerve studies will help pinpoint the underlying cause. Early diagnosis is key to effective management, which may include physical therapy, medication, or lifestyle adjustments.

Don't ignore new or worsening walking problems. Addressing the root cause can significantly improve mobility, quality of life, and safety. For more information on various gait abnormalities, UF Health provides an overview of various walking abnormalities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, arthritis in the hips, knees, or feet can cause significant pain and stiffness. This pain can cause a person to involuntarily alter their gait to reduce weight on the affected joint, leading to a noticeable limp.

Parkinson's disease is one of the most common causes of a shuffling or propulsive gait. This is due to a combination of muscle rigidity, slow movement, and impaired balance associated with the disease.

Yes, a deficiency in Vitamin B12 can damage the nervous system, leading to a loss of balance and coordination. This can result in an unsteady, sensory ataxic gait that worsens when vision is removed, such as in the dark.

You should see a doctor if you notice new or worsening difficulties with walking, especially if they are accompanied by other symptoms like pain, numbness, weakness, or balance issues. Early evaluation can help identify and treat the underlying cause.

Not necessarily, as many factors can cause temporary walking issues, including ill-fitting shoes, minor injuries, or certain medications. However, persistent or worsening problems should be medically evaluated to rule out serious conditions.

Yes, poor circulation, such as that caused by Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), can lead to leg pain or cramping when walking. This condition, called claudication, often causes individuals to stop and rest to relieve the discomfort.

Yes, trauma to the brain, such as a concussion or a more severe injury, can damage the parts of the brain responsible for coordination and balance. This can lead to a variety of gait issues, depending on the area affected.