title: Gait disorders.
abstract: Gait disorders are frequently accompanied by loss of balance and falls, and are a common cause of disability, particularly among the elderly. In many cases the cause is multifactorial, involving both neurologic and nonneurologic systems. Physical therapy and training, coupled with pharmacologic and surgical therapy, can usually provide some improvement in ambulation, which translates into better quality of life. More research is needed on the mechanisms of gait and its disorders as well as on symptomatic therapies. Better understanding of the pathophysiology of gait disorders should lead to more specific, pathogenesis-targeted therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, 6550 Fannin, Suite 1801, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: josephj@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
keywords: Ataxia; Basal ganglia; Bradykinesia; Freezing of gait; Gait; Parkinson disease; Parkinsonism; Progressive supranuclear palsy