A wide-based gait characterized by hesitation in starting and short, shuffling steps that rarely leave the
floor. Hence, the term “magnetic gait,” as if the feet were glued to the ground. Some patients also have
difficulty in maintaining an upright posture, due to the forward flexion of the upper trunk, arms, and knees.
They also lack reflexes against sudden perturbation. This not only causes them to fall, but also makes turns
difficult, often leading to a misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s (even though apraxic patients typically maintain arm
swinging). Mild cognitive deficits are also common, such as constructional dyspraxia (inability to draw a
five-pointed star) and memory impairments (of the retrieval type). Apraxic gait is not due to muscle
weakness, paralysis, or other motor/sensory impairments, but to the inability to carry out familiar
purposeful movements. Hence, sensory response and deep tendon reflexes are usually normal (although the
plantar reflex may be of the Babinski type). The neuroanatomic basis is a disconnection of prefrontal
and frontal regions from the other parts of the motor control system.
floor. Hence, the term “magnetic gait,” as if the feet were glued to the ground. Some patients also have
difficulty in maintaining an upright posture, due to the forward flexion of the upper trunk, arms, and knees.
They also lack reflexes against sudden perturbation. This not only causes them to fall, but also makes turns
difficult, often leading to a misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s (even though apraxic patients typically maintain arm
swinging). Mild cognitive deficits are also common, such as constructional dyspraxia (inability to draw a
five-pointed star) and memory impairments (of the retrieval type). Apraxic gait is not due to muscle
weakness, paralysis, or other motor/sensory impairments, but to the inability to carry out familiar
purposeful movements. Hence, sensory response and deep tendon reflexes are usually normal (although the
plantar reflex may be of the Babinski type). The neuroanatomic basis is a disconnection of prefrontal
and frontal regions from the other parts of the motor control system.
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