It depends on the disease. Still, inspecting how a patient walks into your office (or climbs onto the
examination table) can often unlock important neurologic or musculoskeletal diagnoses. At a
minimum, it can sort out disorders due to arthritis (the most common reason for gait disturbance in primary
care) from those resulting from neurologic diseases (stroke, Parkinson’s, frontal gait disorders, myelopathy
from spondylosis) or other conditions (claudication, orthostatic hypotension).
examination table) can often unlock important neurologic or musculoskeletal diagnoses. At a
minimum, it can sort out disorders due to arthritis (the most common reason for gait disturbance in primary
care) from those resulting from neurologic diseases (stroke, Parkinson’s, frontal gait disorders, myelopathy
from spondylosis) or other conditions (claudication, orthostatic hypotension).