Unsteady Gait: Causes, Treatment, And When To Seek Help

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What You Should Know About an Unsteady Gait

Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on September 28, 2019

Signs
Causes
When to seek help
Diagnosis
Treatment
Home care

An unsteady gait refers to a pattern of walking that’s unstable. This can increase your risk of injury if left unmanaged. Using walking aids and making some small changes to your environment can help.

Walking is typically a smooth motion created by putting one foot in front of the other. Unless you’re walking on an uneven surface, your walking pattern should feel steady and even.

However, your walking pattern is no longer smooth if you have an unsteady gait. It may be shuffling, uneven, or feel otherwise unstable.

An unsteady gait has many potential causes that range from temporary to long term. An unsteady gait can increase your risk for falls and injury, so it’s important to seek medical help for more serious causes of this symptom.

Doctors may also describe an unsteady gait as an ataxic gait. This means the person is walking in an abnormal, uncoordinated, or unsteady manner.

What to look for with an unsteady gait?

An unsteady gait can encompass several different symptoms. Examples include:

dizziness or vertigo when walking
shuffling when walking
instability, or lacking balance
unsteady

People with a chronically unsteady gait often have a wide stance when walking. They may walk slowly and exhibit caution when walking, and may even stumble.

What causes an unsteady gait?

Many disorders and contributing factors cause an unsteady gait. There are often multiple causes of an unsteady gait. Some of these include:

affective disorders and psychiatric conditions
cardiovascular diseases
infection and metabolic diseases
musculoskeletal disorders
neurologic disorders
sensory abnormalities

Taking four or more medications at a time is also associated with increased risk for an unsteady gait. Prescription medications such as the following are also associated with increased risk for an unsteady gait:

diuretics
narcotics
antidepressants
psychotropics
digoxin (Lanoxin)
anticonvulsants
antiarrhythmics

When do I seek medical help for an unsteady gait?

Seek immediate medical attention if you suddenly experience an unsteady gait coupled with any of the following symptoms:

a fall with injuries or a fall on your head
can’t speak clearly
difficulty breathing
dizziness
drooping on one side of the face
loss of bladder or bowel control
occurs after a head injury
severe, throbbing headache
sudden confusion
sudden numbness in one or more body parts
sudden change in gait pattern

Make an appointment to see your doctor if you’ve recently experienced a fall or your unsteady gait makes you feel as if you may fall. Take action to keep yourself safe and reduce the risk of future injury.

How is an unsteady gait diagnosed?

Your doctor will first take a medical history and ask you about what medications you are taking. It’s also important to report if you have a history of falls or near falls, as well as any alcohol consumption history or use of recreational drugs.

Your doctor will also evaluate your gait to view how you are walking. They may ask you to walk toe to heel. Other considerations are stance, step length, and if you need help when walking.

Your doctor may classify your gait using a scale known as the Functional Ambulation Classification Scale. This scale rates your gait on a zero to five scale, with five being a person who can walk independently and without assistance from others.

A doctor will then consider if you have related symptoms that may require additional tests. These can include:

blood pressure checks in a lying, seated, and standing position
blood testing for hemoglobin levels, thyroid function, electrolytes, blood glucose, and vitamin B-12 tests
cognitive function testing
depression screening
hearing tests
vision tests

Testing and diagnostic methods vary because there can be many causes of an unsteady gait.

How is an unsteady gait treated?

Treatments for an unsteady gait depend upon its causes. A doctor may prescribe medications to reduce an unsteady gait if you have the following conditions:

arthritis
depression
hypothyroidism
orthostatic hypertension
Parkinson’s disease
rhythm disorders
vitamin B-12 deficiency

Some conditions may require surgery to correct the unsteady gait cause. These include spinal conditions, such as lumbar spinal stenosis and cervical stenosis.

Other treatments can include hearing aids for hearing problems, canes or walkers to aid in walking, and vision correction through glasses or a new glasses prescription.

Some people may even benefit from physical therapy services that help them learn how to walk with a foot problem, such as foot numbness.

What can I do at home to treat an unsteady gait?

Because an unsteady gait increases your risk for falls, it’s important to evaluate your home. Here are some steps you can take:

Take care to remove all objects from walkways. Examples include shoes, books, clothing, and papers.
Make sure your walkways are well lit. You may wish to place nightlights in wall outlets to make sure that your path is visible.
Place nonslip mats on your bathtub floor as well as where you step outside the tub. You can also place nonskid, adhesive strips on the tub floor.
Always wear nonskid shoes when walking inside your house to reduce your fall risk.

Keep a flashlight at your bedside and use it if you need to get up at night.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Functional ambulation category. (2012).https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/functional-ambulation-category
Gait abnormalities. (n.d.).http://stanfordmedicine25.stanford.edu/the25/gait.html
Important facts about falls. (2017).https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Parkinson’s disease.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/basics/definition/con-20028488
Salzman B. (2010). Gait and balance disorders inolder adults.http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0701/p61.html
Viosca E, et al. (2005). Proposal and validationof the new functional ambulation classification scale for clinical use. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2004.11.016
Watson S. (2012). A sluggish, unsteady walkmight signal memory problems.http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-sluggish-unsteady-walk-might-signal-memory-problems-201207235047
What is ataxia? (n.d.).http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/centers_clinics/movement_disorders/ataxia/conditions/

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Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M.D. — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA — Updated on September 28, 2019

Unsteady Gait: Causes, Treatment, And When To Seek Help

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Mental Well-Being

What to look for with an unsteady gait?

What causes an unsteady gait?

When do I seek medical help for an unsteady gait?

How is an unsteady gait diagnosed?

How is an unsteady gait treated?

What can I do at home to treat an unsteady gait?

How we reviewed this article:

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