What are the Most Common Gait Deviations?

Are you a physical therapy student who is struggling to understand gait deviations and how to find them? Do you feel like you didn’t spend adequate time on this topic in your program? Maybe you are a clinician of some kind that just needs a refresher…
To get access to my learning strategies, quizzes, access to me on Discord, and more you should check out my entire Instructor Brooks Campus. Go to www.instructorbrooks.com and click on Campus in the top navigation bar.
Many of our musculoskeletal and neurological impairments will present in our gait patterns so we should always have our eyes open and watching! 👀
In this video, I will demonstrate and explain some reasoning for multiple gait deviations. Watch closely and learn to use your eyes to pick them out. Once you can see it then you can begin to correct it. Improper gait patterns can lead to joint pain, muscle fatigue, and tightness.
Enjoy and remember that knowledge is power. 🧠💪🏻
Table of Contents: 🚶🏼‍♂️
0:00 Gait Deviation Intro
1:35 Foot Drop
2:05 High Steppage
2:22 Circumduction
2:39 Vaulting
2:59 Hip Hike
3:15 Foot Slap
3:38 Weak Quad
4:05 Weak Glute Max
4:24 Trendelenburg Gait Uncompensated and Compensated
To get access to my learning strategies, quizzes, and more you need to be a member at the Student level: / @instructorbrooks
**Disclaimer**
The medical information in this video is provided as an informational/educational resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purpose. This information does not create any patient-therapist relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.
Please consult your healthcare provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. Instructor Brooks/BrooksCraft Productions LLC expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this video.

[@FN-nw2wn]

As a dpt student, I think I've just struck gold. Amazing channel! Thank you for sharing!❤

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thank you so much and so glad it has been helpful. Share it with everyone!

[@iamkevinhollis]

I cant even describe how happy i am to have found your channel! i feel like i found a hidden gem. Im starting a 2 year PTA program in 3 weeks. you can count on me joining your online school!

[@gmr1241]

Brilliant, thank you! I've been binge-watching gait dx videos and NONE of them so far have mentioned these.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Wow! Well, I am glad I can help. Thanks for the compliment.

[@cand33cane]

Brilliant video. Short, to the point, yet super informative . Thank you

[@InstructorBrooks]

You're welcome

[@Teezar22]

How is this PTA professor better than my DPT program professors? Please come teach at my university!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Because, I am Instructor Brooks 😎🤓🤘🏻 Totally appreciate the compliment. It means a lot. I just love education and helping people learn. If you have any videos you want me to add to my schedule let me know.

[@TheKcchiefs5124]

Nice jobs brooks I love re-familiarizing myself with these terms and concepts. Keep up the great work!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks man! Glad I can help. Got more stuff planned for the future.

[@q.sagecress7722]

This video is so helpful, clear and fascinating. Thank you!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Fantastic! I am so glad I could help. If you have any recommendations for other videos or concepts let me know.

[@anarosef]

This video such a goldmine ! So grateful you're offering us your knowldege ! Absolutely wonderful and beautifully explained ! Thank you ! ❤

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad it was helpful 😊. If you are looking for an upgrade to your knowledge, clinical skills, test taking, and Board Prep you might want to check out my membership options.

[@aishahnoor6742]

This was very helpful and I definitely shared with my classmates! Keep bringing us more content! Thank you!!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Awesome!

[@veronicaaguilar5162]

Thank you so much is so easy to understand. I getting ready to take my PTA exam, I'm foreign training PT. Watch your videos make it easy to understand. 🤗

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad I could help and thanks for the comment. Good luck on your exam!

[@tiffanycooley4487]

This is incredible. Thank you so much.

[@InstructorBrooks]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@ethankrenos2477]

incredible explanations! Took just the right amount of time to explain everything with a high degree of effectiveness. Thank you! happily subscribed

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad I could help. 😎

[@lala-love1272]

please post more gait problems and how to analyze them

[@InstructorBrooks]

I am going to be adding them to the membership. Check it out.

[@teddy2271]

Thank you so much, I've been struggling to classify gait deviations of my patients. Like I know they have a deviation, I just don't know what it is. So thank you for making this video!

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad I could help

[@haseo204]

Hi! Please continue to make videos about Gait! I hope you’ll be making videos for the RLA classification of gait.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks Sebs. I appreciate the idea and will add it to my list for sure! Have an awesome day.

[@lenkakruger5550]

Part 2 with some of the other gait deviations??? Great video!

[@eljoy5280]

Great video. My friend seems to have a combination of several of these. She won’t see a doctor. Gradually her mobility has decreased to reliance on walking aids.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Sorry to hear your friend won't see a doctor. 😔

[@kailorteerapong5799]

Excellent video! Much appreciated from a PT student in CA.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks. Glad it was helpful 😁

[@KeddyWairimu]

Wowwwww I loved this video. Current PT student, thank you!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Glad it helped. If you ever have an idea for a video let me know.

[@mariademishkevich1214]

Thank you! Weak glut max gait was a new one for me. Would be great if you could make a video to practice spotting these deviations (eg when they're less obvious).

[@InstructorBrooks]

Glad I could help. I like to call that weak glute max the "Grandpa Gait". I also love your idea. I will work on some ideas for doing that.

[@magpiesneedle2575]

Very helpful to understanding my own issues.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Glad I could help

[@JerickMoss]

If you can go in depth with another video! I really like this explanation! Thank you so much have a great day 🙏🏽

[@InstructorBrooks]

I absolutely can. If there something specific you are looking for?

[@InstructorBrooks]

Check out my recent drop where I go really deep into Heel Strike. Over the next 8 weeks I will be breaking down gait a phase at a time much more in-depth.

[@ameliamacaringue630]

Thanks was so helpful

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad it was helpful. Starting next week I am releasing new videos for the phases of gait with deviations mixed in. A little deeper dive to help even more.

[@sivanmaahd670]

It’s a really short but it’s really helpful❤

[@scarlettsmith3537]

Wow this amazing! Learned athis in class but sometimes I forget what they look like and this helped so much thank you! ♥️

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks. Glad I can help 🙂

[@InstructorBrooks]

A new series? What are you looking for?

[@cassandrakanye9878]

this saved me for my skill check thank you!

[@InstructorBrooks]

That is awesome! I am in the works on new gait videos releasing the beginning of April.

[@spacemonkey1717]

Nice video! Like the way you communicate. Learned a lot. Liked and subscribed

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks for the sub! Glad you are learning :)

[@SeenAGreatLight]

Holy smokes, that is indeed one MASSIVE gastroc! XD Thanks for the demo!

[@InstructorBrooks]

😜

[@littlecolinaph]

Thank you this is helpful Sir

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad it helped. More stuff in the works

[@jonsalisbury]

outstanding video - thank you (liked and subscribed)

[@InstructorBrooks]

Great!

[@goldiejohnson6197]

Thanks for this and who should I see to fix this problem I'm having

[@InstructorBrooks]

I always recommend seeing your Primary Care MD first.

[@ervakeles9604]

This video is so alsom! Thanks from turkey

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks and glad it could help! More is on the way

[@azamqayyum]

What a wonderful video

[@InstructorBrooks]

Awesome! One of my upcoming projects is going to be too make more videos with the deviations and add treatment. Does that sound like something you'd be interested in?

[@dongrekapil]

Sir very nice explanation

[@InstructorBrooks]

Glad it was helpful

[@emmadoyle9627]

thank you thank you thank you

[@InstructorBrooks]

No problem! If you're looking for more information and lessons and activities, go to www.instructorbrooks.com and click The Campus

[@luzmeza5703]

Do a video of stroke patient rehab 😃😃 this was very helpful and clear

[@InstructorBrooks]

I would love to do a video of specific rehab techniques as a demonstration. I do have a basic CVA lecture/discussion you can check out in the meantime. Check out the Neuro playlist. Thanks so much for the feedback.

[@muhammadhusny6276]

Thank you very much for excellent explanation and for Godzilla example

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks for watching! Feel free to let me know if there are any topics you would like to see covered on my channel :)

[@sumagandipalli2812]

great 👍

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks! Glad it's helpful.

[@arianafilippelli3221]

I love this video!! please make more like it

[@arianafilippelli3221]

for any concepts related to PT school lol

[@InstructorBrooks]

Come to the live sessions in May! I am gonna go over gait basics, deviations, and more!

[@arianafilippelli3221]

@@InstructorBrooks how do i make sure to attend these? do u have an email you send out at all?

[@InstructorBrooks]

Go to my website: www instructorbrooks.com You can register there. The old streams are uploaded to KZbin as well.

[@chiewchungyee2154]

You made it so clear and easy to understand. You are a great instructor. Really appreciate your work . Please continue to present and share with us.

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thank you for the comment. I have lots to share. Currently releasing videos on passive insufficiency followed soon by active Insufficiency. After that I have videos for a more detailed breakdown of gait. I am also open to ideas if there is a specific topic you want me to cover.

[@JoyBoy_87]

Do you have a video where you explain how the ground reaction forces affect the function of the muscles?

[@InstructorBrooks]

I do not but that sounds like a good topic. I will add it to my list. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@JoyBoy_87]

@@InstructorBrooks thank you! It is a topic that really gives me hard time to understand

[@medlife3931]

Really helpful video sir u 🥰

[@InstructorBrooks]

Awesome! On May 21st I am doing a Members-Only Live Stream to cover some basic Tx ideas for different deviations. Plus other gait related streams all month. Head over to www.instructorbrooks.com to stay informed.

[@medlife3931]

@@InstructorBrooks sure 😊

[@user-co3sl6bc8r]

Hi. In your gait deviation video you mentioned you have a video on how to manage the various deviations discussed. I cannot see it in your library.

[@InstructorBrooks]

I do not have a Tx video yet 😕. I am working on it

[@rudygon426]

I think I have slap foot,have you made the video on how to treat them?

[@InstructorBrooks]

Not yet…but I am planning to have a live session on May 21st to discuss specific treatments for gait deviations. May 7th-I’ll be doing a live session on the foundations of fair, followed by specific gait deviations on the 14th…both of these will be free and open for anyone to watch. You do have to become a member to have access to the gait deviations treatment session on the 21st but we would love to have you join the community 🙌🏻

[@karnsoo4024]

Cool video..likessss

[@InstructorBrooks]

Thanks :)

[@ratanangchokoe243]

hi, there✨I just wanted to ask, how does gluteus maximus prevent humans from falling forward? Like I'm struggling to grasp the concept. Thank you!

[@InstructorBrooks]

Think about the action of the glute max. It extends the hip. So if you are standing upright correctly it maintain a neutral hip posture but failure of the glute max to have adequate strength will cause us to fall forward into hip flexion. The deviation to prevent this is to lean the trunk posterior or otherwise excessive hip extension. This positioning requires little to no glute max activation. Does this help?

[@ratanangchokoe243]

@@InstructorBrooks this makes perfect sense, thank you so much! Brilliant concept indeed.

[@InstructorBrooks]

So glad I could help.

[@binaaas7700]

Hey , can I email you somehow wanna get in contact with you about my gait . Thank you !

[@InstructorBrooks]

I will gladly discuss concepts of gait. I am available for email at [e-mail] to answer questions if I can.

[@vickers2010]

If I sent you a video of my niece could you help me know what kind of problem she has? She has had an MRI, CT scan, Spinal tap. No one can tell her what the cause is. She is 57 and all the gaits I see are nothing like hers.

[@InstructorBrooks]

I highly recommend seeing a Physical Therapist or another MD like a neurologist. I appreciate you asking me but I am an educator and do not want to do any evaluations.

[@ginapalermo3933]

Do you have a worksheet to go along with this video ? 😊

[@InstructorBrooks]

I do have worksheets, strategies, and more if you are a member at the student level. Here is a teaser of a playlist I have for members only. This is one of many and growing. kzbin.info/aero/PLhn2joyOgtNmld6BeYPVKiZ9FueSgSEvx

[@ginapalermo3933]

@@InstructorBrooks joined. Thanks.

[@NW-pt8zz]

so why would u vault?

[@InstructorBrooks]

Vaulting would occur due to an inability to shorten the swing leg.

[@BejayBae]

Leg length discrepancy gait?

[@InstructorBrooks]

That will present with a deviation on the long leg side. Presenting with circumduction or other deviation.

[@BejayBae]

@@InstructorBrooks Dr. What is the most deviation on leg length discrepancy gait? On persons with severe LLD to mild LLD?

[@InstructorBrooks]

Not sure. That might not be data that is collected. However, I would say when you stand on the short leg the long leg during swing will circumduct.

[@BejayBae]

@@InstructorBrooks Okay doc and the persons with leg length discrepancy could experience waddling gait?

[@InstructorBrooks]

They could. They could have a vaulting gait too. It depends on a lot of factors.