As Mr. B enters the room, you observe that his gait is wide-based and he staggers from side to side while swaying his trunk. You would document Mr. B's pattern as:
A) dystonic ataxia.
B) cerebellar ataxia.
C) steppage gait.
D) tabetic stamping.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A cerebellar gait (cerebellar ataxia) occurs when the patient's feet are wide-based, with a staggering gait, lurching from side to side, often accompanied by swaying of the trunk. Dystonic ataxia is jerky dancing movements that appear nondirectional. Steppage gait is noted when the hip and knee are elevated excessively high to lift the plantar-flexed foot off the ground. The foot is brought down with a slap and the patient is unable to walk on the heels. Tabetic stamping occurs when the legs are positioned far apart, lifted high, and forcibly brought down with each step; in this case, the heel stamps on the ground.

As Mr B Enters the Room, You Observe That His Gait