![]() Hip and knee osteoarthritis are common non-neurological causes of gait disorders. Sensory ataxia due to polyneuropathy, parkinsonism and frontal gait disorders due to subcortical vascular encephalopathy or disorders associated with dementia are among the most common neurological causes. The prevalence of gait disorders increases from 10 % in people aged 60–69 years to more than 60 % in community dwelling subjects aged over 80 years. Acute onset of a gait disorder may indicate a cerebrovascular or other acute lesion in the nervous system but also systemic diseases or adverse effects of medication, in particular polypharmacy including sedatives. Gait disorders lead to a loss of personal freedom, falls and injuries and result in a marked reduction in the quality of life. Safe walking requires intact cognition and executive control. The preferred walking speed in older adults is a sensitive marker of general health and survival. The individual gait pattern is influenced by age, personality, mood and sociocultural factors. Human gait depends on a complex interplay of major parts of the nervous, musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems.
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