Why does one feel unsteady, unsteady, or dizzy when walking: possible causes and treatment for an unsteady, slow gait. How to get rid of a shaky, uncertain gait: medicine, vestibular gymnastics

If you feel unsteady when walking, this may be the cause of some illness or a consequence of injury. Unsteadiness and other abnormalities while walking can be caused by damage to the parts of the nervous system that control leg movements. Sometimes an unsteady gait is caused by arthritis, injuries to the spine or lower extremities. This condition can be caused by muscle bruises and foot deformities, which can even appear due to the use of uncomfortable shoes. If you have an unsteady gait, osteochondrosis also cannot be excluded from this list.

Unsteady gait is often caused by a stroke. Also, the cause of unsteady movements when walking can be Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

If dizziness is not observed while walking, this may indicate the presence of osteochondrosis. This disease affects the cartilage and bone tissue of the spine, caused by degeneration of the intervertebral discs. In turn, this leads to impaired blood supply, nutrition and hydration, as well as a decrease in the space between the vertebrae.

Unsteady gait with osteochondrosis appears due to pinching of the spinal nerves. Symptoms depend on the location of the pinching. In degenerative processes, this can occur in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine.

If the cervical intervertebral discs are damaged, the patient experiences a headache, possible dizziness, and high blood pressure. If the thoracic spine is affected, the disease may manifest itself as pain in the heart. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, weakness in the legs, numbness of the limbs, and decreased sensitivity of the skin are most often felt.

Osteochondrosis is often accompanied by compression of the nerve endings, so the impulse that goes from the nerves to the legs is disrupted. In this case, a similar effect can apply to both one limb and both. Actually, it is the pinched nerves that lead to gait instability.

Weakness in the legs with cervical osteochondrosis

If a person seems to stumble while walking, and his gait resembles the movements of a drunk and is accompanied by noise in the head or dizziness, then this pathology can be caused by cervical osteochondrosis. Loss of balance may also be accompanied by the following:

• tinnitus;
• aching cephalalgia, aggravated by turning the head;
• painful sensations in the neck;
• increased heart rate;
• increased sweating.

How can you regain your confident gait?

To regain confidence in your legs, it is naturally necessary to treat the cause that caused the instability. To do this, you must definitely visit a doctor. Actually, the treatment of osteochondrosis is accompanied by the prescription of certain pharmacological agents that help dilate and increase vascular tone, as well as increase blood supply to the brain.

In addition to medications, the following will help restore your former confident gait:

• traction and fixation of the cervical spine;
• water procedures;
• individually selected physical exercises;
• food with a high content of vitamins B, C, etc.

If your gait has become unsteady, you should immediately consult a doctor, because this condition indicates the progress of the disease. You should definitely undergo a full medical examination to determine the exact cause of unsteadiness when walking.

You can watch a set of exercises for the treatment of osteochondrosis in the video:

Natalia Tumanova

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1. Darling User

   Good afternoon. I am 35 years old, female, weight 80 kg (nursing mother).
   Complaints throughout the year: when sitting - the body sways strongly to the sides, when walking - unsteadiness, when bending the body and head - crunching, spasm and dizziness, when raising the arms up - crunching, heaviness between the shoulder blades. Tremors and weakness in the arms and legs. Vision - worsened, blurry (blurred, foggy), spots before the eyes. Often nausea. Non-systemic dizziness, associated with turning the head or body. Pressure tends to increase. Frequent tachycardia and shortness of breath. Chills and flashes of hot and cold. Heat in the neck, spasm in neck and shoulders. When turning the head to the sides - “roll in the head”
   Examinations: X-ray of all parts of the spine. Neck: straightening of lordosis, signs of univertebral arthrosis, violation of statics, in the position of maximum extension, displacement: C2-up to 2.8 mm, C3-up to 3.1 mm, C4-up to 3.3 mm, C5-up to 2.1 mm, in position maximum flexion - no displacement. Thoracic region: signs of deforming spondylosis against the background of static disturbances. Lumbar: straightened lordosis, osteochondrosis.
   Duplex arteries of the head and neck: tortuosity of the vertebral arteries, vertebrogenic effect on the vertebral arteries on both sides. Diameter of the vertebral arteries: on the right - 3.3 mm, on the left - 3.1 mm.
   REG and EEG - without features.
   General blood tests, urine tests, biochemistry tests are normal.
   Hormones are normal.
   Established diagnoses: osteochondrosis, VSD, HDN, VBN.
   Treatment: massage, physiotherapy, exercise therapy (at the clinic), vascular medications - no result... the condition is getting worse.
   Please help me decide on a diagnosis, and most importantly, a treatment method!

2. Vladimir Vorotyntsev

   You need to seek help from a chiropractor.

3. Darling User

   Thank you! Tell me, if there is a violation of statics, aren’t the manipulations carried out by chiropractors dangerous?
   I forgot to mention another point. I have TMJ. The jaw crunches, moves back when lying down, there is pain on one side. At one session, an osteopath helped set it, but only for 2 days. Everything came back again. Is it possible that TMJ is related to my condition?

4. Nikolai Nikolaevich

   Thank you! Tell me, if there is a violation of statics, aren’t the manipulations carried out by chiropractors dangerous?
   I forgot to mention another point. I have TMJ. The jaw crunches, moves back when lying down, there is pain on one side. At one session, an osteopath helped set it, but only for 2 days. Everything came back again. Is it possible that TMJ is related to my condition?

   Click to expand...

   They are not dangerous if the impact is adequate, but I still recommend looking for a chiropractor who practices SOFT m/t methods.

   Be sure to include physiotherapy
   Cervical SMT
   Actovegin IV preferably with ozone therapy also IV.
   + It would not hurt to do an MRI of the cervical spine.

5. klyuha Experienced Guru

6. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

   It's simple, this method was first tested on myself. This technique is used every day in our clinic, and more than 80% of patients report improvements. Not a single side effect in all this time! As for the research, we tested the blood viscosity on the controller; in 10 out of 10, the viscosity decreased; I did not conduct any other research. It’s up to you to believe it or not, I don’t impose my opinion on anyone.

7. AIR Chiropractor, Ph.D.

   Complaints throughout the year: when sitting - the body sways strongly to the sides, when walking - unsteadiness, when bending the body and head - crunching, spasm and dizziness, when raising the arms up - crunching, heaviness between the shoulder blades. Tremors and weakness in the arms and legs. Vision - worsened, blurry (blurred, foggy), spots before the eyes. Often nausea. Non-systemic dizziness, associated with turning the head or body. Pressure tends to increase. Frequent tachycardia and shortness of breath. Chills and flashes of hot and cold. Heat in the neck, spasm in neck and shoulders. When turning the head to the sides - “roll in the head”

   Click to expand...

   The vast majority of complaints may well be associated not only with other reasons, but also with problems of the cervical spine. For example, an x-ray clearly shows limited mobility at the C0-C1-C2 level, which indicates problems of a muscular-tonic nature.... Desirable a careful and experienced chiropractor who knows how to diagnose and eliminate disorders of a muscular-tonic (and other) nature..

   NIKIO (MNPTSO)
   I know a little, but I guess a lot (A.S. Pushkin)...

8. Vladimir Vorotyntsev Doctor - chiropractor, rehabilitation specialist

   What Actovegin, colleague! Are you really poisoning us with this muck, which is prohibited for use in the EU countries (even in Austria, where it is produced for export to the CIS and China) and the USA?
   And in general, “perforating” a vein in the absence of indications for intensive care measures is unreasonable.

9. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

   What Actovegin, colleague! Are you really poisoning us with this muck, which is prohibited for use in the EU countries (even in Austria, where it is produced for export to the CIS and China) and the USA?
   And in general, “perforating” a vein in the absence of indications for intensive care measures is unreasonable.

   Click to expand...

   Yes, this is how we work, we poison patients with Actovegin and “perforate” the veins with “quack” ozone. But at the same time I get excellent results, which I’m happy with

10. incognito Newbie

    Hello .
    I’ll answer you, and then you know whether you’ll go this route or not.
    I will answer with my own example. At the beginning of July, after not getting enough sleep for 2 days and very little stress, I began to have a headache. I am 40 years old. I had never had a headache before in my life, let alone for so long. Even after a concussion in the distant past. And here almost every day, 2 weeks. Weakness at times. I almost lost my ability to work, although before that I was cheerful and energetic. I did an MRI of the neck and consulted a neurologist with 27 years of experience in a paid, decent neurological clinic in a city with a population of over a million. There was also an unsteadiness in my gait when she checked me with my eyes closed while walking in the office. Diagnosed with VSD. She prescribed a tranquilizer, Mexidol (5 droppers), a muscle relaxant and Magne B6. I've read about all this. I realized that this could last a long time.
    Maybe I did it wrong, but I didn’t go on IVs, although I’m not afraid of them. I bought a vitamin B complex and Mexidol tablets. I took Mexidol in the maximum dosage, although I understood that droppers were more effective. I thought that if I feel even a little better within 2-4 days from the pills, I’ll immediately go and do more IVs and start taking everything else. It didn’t get any easier, and for the entire next week I had this unusual dull, sometimes bursting pain in my head and loss of almost 2/3 of my ability to work (I have mental work). I did another MRI of my head and called her. She said that the diagnosis was valid and said that it would take a long time.
    I decided that I didn’t want this to take a long time and decided to use my old method, which I have been using for 20 years and which, by the way, was approved long ago by the Russian Ministry of Health, but is not very popular. The method of RDT or otherwise therapeutic fasting. I decided to abstain from food for some period. Started abstinence. After 2 days I also stopped drinking water. I spent 8 days without food and 3 and a half of them, including without water.
    On the 3rd day of abstaining from food, the headache almost disappeared. It was 80 percent gone. Subsequently, it either didn’t exist, or a small amount appeared, no more than 20% of the original. During the recovery stage, after 7-8 days the headache disappeared completely and has not yet recurred. In total, for 20 days (3 weeks) I have had no headaches and all the signs of this VSD have disappeared. I understand that now doctors may be indignant and say that this is not a method, for which I recommend that doctors read Professor Yu. Nikolaev, a doctor, his book, “Fasting for Health,” where he cured not only neuroses with this method (and VSD is a neurosis ), but also such dangerous diseases as schizophrenia. I won’t argue with doctors, since the majority of doctors can do nothing more than cure acute diseases with a pill when it comes to more complex and long-lasting diseases. Well, as for acute ones, they mostly go away on their own.
    So, try fasting, at least 9-10 days with 2-3 days without water. If possible, avoid eating for longer. Just first, read the literature. And you will be cured. And all these chiropractors and doctors are all a waste of money. The only thing is that you can consult a doctor for a diagnosis, but they have already been given to you. I hope my experience will help another person to heal. Osteochondrosis, protrusions and hernias are also eliminated by this method or at least reduced. Proven by practitioners.

11. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

    And all these chiropractors and doctors are all a waste of money. The only thing is that you can consult a doctor for a diagnosis, but they have already been given to you. I hope my experience will help another person to heal. Osteochondrosis, protrusions and hernias are also eliminated by this method or at least reduced. Proven by practitioners.

    Click to expand...

    This is the schedule.
    
    Doctors often characterize VSD with the term “diagnostic garbage,” which perfectly characterizes this pseudo-diagnosis.

12. Darling User

    Thank you to the doctors for the discussions and advice about manual therapy. I visited 5 osteopaths and none of them could help me. Soft methods of influence were also used. Something else amazes me... no one can establish a diagnosis. What exactly is pinching in the neck? what causes body swaying and instability...
    As for fasting...I think this is definitely not my option. If you have a bad heart or thyroid gland, such experiments are contraindicated.

13. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

    An osteopath is not a chiropractor. An MRI of the cervical spine is a must!!!
    what affects what is described on the duplex
    

14. Vladimir Vorotyntsev Doctor - chiropractor, rehabilitation specialist

    this is the schedule.
    Vladimir Vorotyntsev and here we are still discussing Actovegin, everyone should starve, period
    incognito what are you talking about??? There is no VSD, it does not exist in nature, just as it is not in the international classification of diseases ICD 10. According to historical tradition, in Russia, under VSD, symptoms characteristic of anxiety-neurotic disorders are often written off, and typical manifestations of a “panic attack” "- it is customary to call it a vegetative crisis. Therefore, the abbreviation VSD, especially among “emotional people,” often hides a banal neurosis that needs to be treated by a psychotherapist. There are no clear and intelligible criteria, the pseudo-diagnosis of “VSD” itself, which does not exist at all in modern medicine.
    Doctors often characterize VSD with the term “diagnostic garbage,” which perfectly characterizes this pseudo-diagnosis.

    Click to expand...

    I only talked about Actovegin, which is extremely dangerous for human health, and the stupidity of intravenous administration of drugs in the absence of indications for intensive care measures!

15. doclega Radiologist

    There is no pathology in the cervical spine. In the lumbar region there are degenerative changes.

Nobody thinks about the mechanism of coordination and retention in the surrounding space of the body until the moment when a malfunction occurs in its work. Balance disorders have different symptoms, but they are all characterized by sudden attacks that lead to unsteady gait and even falls. Most often, you feel dizzy when walking, when you suddenly begin to stagger and feel drunk. This phenomenon requires urgent medical attention.

Reasons

It happens that when walking, balance is disturbed. This condition appears due to a lack of coordination between the impulses of the sensory system and the work of the vestibular apparatus going to the brain. This occurs in the case of brain disease, intoxication or ear disease. As a result, you may feel dizzy at any moment.

Dizziness is divided into:

• To system ones. They are also called “true” vertigo. Manifested by rotation of the body itself or surrounding objects. Unsteadiness appears in the gait, as if in a state of intoxication. Sometimes there is an attack of nausea.
• To non-systemic ones. They are distinguished by darkness in the eyes and a faint state.

Systemic circling signals problems with coordination and hearing, as well as possible brain pathology. And non-systemic symptoms are a consequence of chronic diseases and this is the leading factor.

Dizziness when walking occurs without serious reasons. A sudden stop, turning the neck while moving, instability of the body - this causes temporary vertigo. The spinning lasts for several seconds. Real dizziness is caused by poisoning with harmful components: gas exhaust, paint fumes, side effects of medications, alcohol intoxication.

Diseases that cause unsteady gait

Dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus is the main reason for dizziness when walking. If the device is working normally, then changes are processed instantly. There is no need to think about how to move your arms or legs. But this ability immediately disappears when pathology develops. The person begins to lose balance, and an unsteady gait appears. The vestibular apparatus fails with neuronitis, otitis, Meniere's disease.

Problems in the nervous system lead to impaired movement, paresis and muscle rigidity. Unexpected movement disorders are perceived as a consequence of dizziness, although this is erroneous. Cerebral palsy and polyneuropathy, causing lethargy of the limbs, are accompanied if certain parts of the brain are turned on.

Epilepsy and hydrocephalus cause severe dizziness. It happens that it is difficult for a patient to prevent a fall without moving forward. Oddly enough, muscle tone remains normal. While sitting, movements are made without effort and without any problems.

Neuroses and dystonia are considered an undoubted reason for “carousels” in the head area. With these disorders, people have weak blood vessels, they are plagued by panic attacks, and many have hypotension. In this case, dizziness is a consequence of illnesses.

Diagnostics

If your head begins to feel dizzy while moving frequently and for no apparent reason, then you need the help of a doctor. An experienced specialist will find the cause of the disorder, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

You should immediately contact a medical facility if:

• unsteadiness and uncertainty of gait;
• walking on a soft surface causes dizziness;
• with closed eyes, internal whirling;
• a slight push forces you to move forward;
• inability to walk along a narrow curb.

First, a visit is made to a therapist. This doctor has enough self-diagnosis methods in his arsenal. As a last resort, the patient will be referred to a specialist. Modern medicine has broad capabilities, and the disease has no chance to “hide.” MRI, ultrasound, ECG and laboratory diagnostics will help to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

The goal of therapy is to localize the disease that caused the disorder. The vestibular apparatus should be calmed with medications and strengthened with physical therapy.

Thanks to medications, metabolism is accelerated, spasms are relieved, and blood flow to the brain improves.

If you feel dizzy when walking normally, certain groups of drugs are used:

• Tranquilizers soften panic attacks and emotional tension.
• Diuretics eliminate unsteadiness of gait and alleviate the appearance of Meniere's disease.
• Antihistamines will slow down dizziness.
• Betahistine-based products are used for periodic dizziness. Treatment with these drugs gives a quick effect, eliminating symptoms.
• In case of unsteady walking due to dizziness, brain stimulation products are used: Cavinton and Bravinton. It is advisable to include a complex of vitamins in the treatment.

Physical therapy will improve blood flow to the cervical region, reduce muscle tension and increase oxygen supply to the brain.

Traditional procedures are used:

• phonophoresis;
• magnetic therapy;
• electrophoresis;
• acupuncture;
• massage;
• medicinal baths.

Elderly people often complain of dizziness when walking. They already have difficulty walking, and this disorder makes life even more difficult. In some cases, for older people, the best medicine is to follow safety rules and behave very carefully. For stability purposes, so as not to sway to the side, it is better to get a cane.

Possible consequences

Dizziness while walking leads to a feeling of uncertainty as it can appear suddenly. In addition to falling, there is a risk of developing a condition in which a person will limit movement outside the home and prefer to stay at home. Over time, this will significantly reduce physical activity, leading to poor body function.

Dizziness, although not a separate disease, can tell your doctor a lot. Modern medicine is able to prevent exacerbations of many pathologies and identify their development in the initial stage.

Another large group of causes of unsteadiness is damage to the parts of the nervous system that control the movements of the legs when walking.

The first group of reasons includes diseases such as osteochondrosis, arthritis, injuries to the spine and lower extremities, muscle bruises, and foot deformities associated with uncomfortable shoes.

The second includes weakness in the limbs due to a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, encephalopathy and other diseases.

Unsteadiness can sometimes be the result of temporary causes such as injury or infection, or it can be a permanent problem characterized by weakness in the legs.

Gait disturbance can range from subtle to severe, leading to limited ability to self-care.

The essence of the disease

One of the common causes of unsteadiness is osteochondrosis, a degenerative disease of cartilage and bone tissue. This process can develop in any bone and joint structure. However, traditionally the term “osteochondrosis” is used mainly in relation to damage to the spine.

The essence of the pathological process in this disease is that degenerative changes occur in the intervertebral disc (the cartilage “lining” between the vertebrae): impaired blood supply, deterioration of nutrition, loss of fluid. Disc deformation leads to a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae and a change in its configuration.

As a result, spinal nerves may be pinched in the intervertebral space. If the infringement occurs in the cervical region, pain appears in the neck, shoulder, and weakness in the arm occurs. Osteochondrotic lesions of the thoracic region are manifested primarily by back pain.

If the disease occurs in the lumbosacral region, the pain is localized in the lower back and may spread to the legs. This form of osteochondrosis is characterized by the appearance of areas where skin sensitivity is reduced, as well as impaired mobility and weakness of the lower extremities.

What causes these symptoms?

The answer to this question is quite simple, but requires a slight retreat towards the basics of anatomy and physiology.

Along the entire length of the spinal column, spinal nerves emerge from it. Some of the branches of these nerve trunks provide sensitivity to certain areas of the skin, while the other part controls the activity of skeletal muscles. The branches supplying the muscles, after leaving the spine, form nerve plexuses and only after that are sent to the muscles.

The nerves that “control” the work of the legs emerge from the lumbar and sacral spine and form two plexuses of the same name. The most significant branch of the lumbar plexus is the femoral nerve, the sacral - the sciatic.

Each of these nerve trunks delivers control impulses to several muscles of the lower extremities. If the nerve root is compressed in the intervertebral space, the conduction of nerve impulses to the muscles worsens, and weakness appears in the leg (or both legs with bilateral damage). Due to weakness, the gait becomes unsteady.

In addition to movement control disorder, pain also plays a role in the appearance of difficulties when walking.

What to do

Unsteadiness of gait is a fairly serious symptom. It is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, especially if weakness in the legs increases rapidly. A full examination is necessary in order to exclude situations requiring surgical intervention. Such conditions may include, for example, a progressive herniation of the intervertebral disc, compressing the nervous tissue.

Causes of staggering when walking

A symptomatic sign of many diseases is staggering when walking. If you have such a symptom, you should undergo a consultation examination by specialists as soon as possible. Only a qualified doctor will help determine the source of the problems that caused staggering when walking, the causes of the condition, and prescribe the necessary examinations and treatment.

Etiology of unsteady gait

The answer to the question of what causes staggering when walking refers to the anatomical features of the structure and functioning of the musculoskeletal system.

The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of movements, the vestibular apparatus and vision help to navigate in the surrounding space, the accuracy and confidence of movements is ensured by a strong bone structure, healthy joints and muscles.

The spine has a system of spinal nerves, half of which are responsible for the functioning of tactile sensations of the skin, the second half of the nerves form plexuses from nerve fibers that go to the muscle tissue, they are responsible for the functioning of the muscles that provide movement in the musculoskeletal system.

The norm of motor activity when walking is due to the unhindered transmission of nerve signals through a pyramidal structure consisting of different levels of the central nervous system.

Nerve plexuses facilitate the passage of nerve impulses that signal muscle tissue.

As a result of the occurrence of abnormal changes that interfere with the transmission of impulses, staggering occurs during movement.

The symptomatic picture characterizing the change in gait completely depends on in which part of the spinal column the disorder in the transmission of impulse signals by nerve cells occurred. Thus, an unsteady gait accompanied by symptoms:

• Head pain, dizziness, impaired blood flow to the brain - this is a pathology in the cervical spine;
• Heart pain, signs of pre-infarction, symptoms of angina pectoris are abnormalities of the thoracic region;
• A feeling of weakness, instability, tingling in the lower extremities is the inferiority of the plexus of nerve fibers of the lumbar and sacral parts of the spinal column.

Also, the presence of pathologies causes pain that interferes with the normal movement of the lower extremities.

Characteristics of an unsteady gait

Staggering when walking has certain features that indicate the onset or progression of a disease.

These signs include:

• Impaired coordination of movements for an unknown reason;
• Increased frequency of stumbling;
• A series of frequent falls due to weakness in the legs;
• Unnaturally sweeping gait;
• Difficulty climbing up flights of stairs;
• Difficulty in leg movements after a long rest;
• Falling on the back when raising the body from a sitting position;
• When walking, the effect of “slumping” on one side of the body appears;
• Stepping movement with support on the heel.

Characteristics of the symptom

Unsteadiness of movements in appearance can be systemic, that is, staggering is an expression of a certain anomaly of the vestibular system of the body; and non-systemic, that is, it is the result of an ongoing chronic disease.

A huge number of sources that cause changes in gait are due to a fairly large list of diseases that have such a symptom. As a result, such pathological changes in walking can be grouped according to the causes of their occurrence.

The first group is represented by diseases that are caused by painful conditions and injuries to the musculoskeletal system, pathological disorders in the bone structure, joints, muscle tissue, and the blood supply to soft tissues.

The second group is diseases of the areas of the brain that are responsible for the functioning of the musculoskeletal system and control coordination in the movements of the lower extremities.

The third group of reasons are emotional and mental disorders.

First group

Staggering when walking occurs in the presence of diseases of the movement apparatus:

• Osteochondrosis - dystrophic lesions of the intervertebral discs;
• Injury to the spinal column;
• Traumatic brain injuries of varying severity;
• Atrophic processes in muscle tissue;
• Arthritis is painful damage to the joints;
• Diseases of cartilage tissue;
• Diseases of the bone structure;
• Deformation of the foot;
• Bruises of the muscle tissue of the lower extremities;
• Damage to the legs of various types.

All painful conditions belonging to the first group are associated with impaired blood supply, insufficient supply of nutrients and oxygen to muscle tissue with its subsequent depletion, and with injuries of various types.

Second group

The second group is represented by diseases and pathological changes in the brain and spinal cord, which, as they progress, cause abnormal weakness in the lower extremities.

Staggering when walking is a sign of serious illnesses:

• Oncological processes of the brain;
• Atherosclerotic disease;
• Functional disorders of the central nervous system;
• Hemorrhagic stroke;
• Purulent inflammation of brain tissue;
• Neurodegenerative processes of the nervous system with impaired coordination function;
• Progressive neurodegenerative disease in combination with mental disorders and choreic hyperkinesis;
• Anatomical discrepancy in the structure and location of the cerebellar region of the brain;
• Tuberculosis of the central nervous system;
• Autoimmune disseminated encephalomyelitis;
• Inflammatory processes in the inner ear;
• Neuronitis of the vestibular type;
• Vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• Meningitis inflammation of brain tissue;
• Polyneuropathy resulting from taking neurotoxic drugs;
• A disease of the central nervous system caused by Treponema pallidum.

Third group

Staggering when walking can be caused by mental disorders of various etiologies:

• Depressive states;
• Severe stress;
• Neuroses;
• Violation of perception of the reality of the surrounding world;
• Unreasonable anxiety and fears.

Diagnostics

During a neurological examination, differential diagnostics are carried out, which will help the doctor determine the degree of functioning of the cerebellum and vestibular apparatus. To determine the characteristics of movements, diagnostic methods are used:

• Changes in gait with eyes closed and open;
• Change of step when moving face or backward;
• Movement sideways to the right and left in a straight line;
• Moving around the chair;
• Walking on your heels, then on your toes;
• Slow or fast rhythm steps;
• Making turns while driving;
• Climbing stairs.

The following is also carried out:

A consultation with an ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, and endocrinologist is scheduled to make the correct diagnosis.

The neuropathologist, after conducting the diagnosis, determines by accompanying signs at what level of the nervous system there are pathological processes that caused staggering during movements. Based on the results of the examination, treatment is prescribed.

Treatment of unsteadiness when walking

Having identified the cause-and-effect nature of gait disturbances, the doctor offers a set of therapeutic agents:

• Unsteadiness in walking is caused by taking medications, then the dosage per dose is reduced or the drug is changed;
• Depressive and psychological disorders are treated with vitamin complexes, a nutritious diet, and normalization of the daily routine;
• Antibiotics are used for infectious processes;
• For painful syndromes - painkillers;
• In case of injury, a course of treatment is carried out to restore and improve the functioning of the musculoskeletal system;
• In the presence of severe illnesses, symptomatic treatment of the disease causing gait disturbances is carried out;
• In some cases, surgery is used.

In all cases, proper rest, good nutrition, and medical examinations are prescribed at least twice a year.

Staggering when walking, an increasing feeling of weakness in the lower extremities - this is a reason to consult a doctor for examinations and timely treatment, which will ensure a person’s health and quality of life.

Neurology

Standing and walking

A person's ability to maintain an upright body position depends on sufficient muscle strength, the ability to receive information about body posture (feedback), and the ability to instantly and accurately compensate for those trunk deviations that threaten balance.

We ask the patient to stand as he usually stands, i.e. assume your natural standing position. We evaluate the distance between the feet, which he involuntarily chose to maintain balance.

We ask the patient to stand up straight, bring their feet together (heels and toes together), and look straight ahead. The doctor should stand next to the patient and be ready to support him at any time (be sure to assure the patient that you will not let him fall). We pay attention to whether the patient deviates in any one direction and whether instability increases when closing the eyes.

A patient who is unable to stand in a feet-together position with his eyes open is likely to have a cerebellar pathology. Such patients walk with their legs wide apart and are unsteady when walking; It is difficult for them, in the absence of support, to maintain balance not only when standing and walking, but also in a sitting position.

Romberg's sign is the patient's inability to maintain balance while standing with his feet tightly together with his eyes closed. This symptom was first described in patients with tabes dorsalis (tertiary syphilis) who had damage to the posterior cords of the spinal cord. Unsteadiness in this position with eyes closed is typical of sensory ataxia. In patients with cerebellar damage, instability in the Romberg position is detected even with open eyes.

Gait analysis is very important for diagnosing diseases of the nervous system. It must be remembered, however, that imbalances when walking can be masked by various compensatory techniques. In addition, gait disorders may be caused by a pathology other than a neurological one, such as joint damage.

Walking is best assessed when the patient is unaware that he is being observed—for example, when the patient enters the office. The gait of a healthy person is fast, springy, light and energetic, and maintaining balance while walking does not require special attention or effort. When walking, your arms are slightly bent at the elbows (palms facing your hips) and perform movements in time with your steps.

Additional tests include checking the following types of walking: walking at a normal pace around the room; walking “on your heels” and “on your toes”; “tandem” walking (along a line, heel to toe). When performing these additional tests, it is necessary to use common sense and offer the patient only those tasks that he can realistically perform at least partially.

We ask the patient to quickly walk around the room. We pay attention to the following points: posture while walking; the effort required to initiate walking and to stop; stride length; rhythm of walking; the presence of normal friendly hand movements; involuntary movements. We evaluate how widely the patient places his legs when walking, whether he lifts his heels off the floor, and whether he “drags” one leg.

The doctor asks the patient to make turns while walking and pays attention to how easy it is for him to make the turn; does the patient lose his balance? how many steps does the patient need to take to turn 360° around its axis (normally such a turn is performed in 1-2 steps).

Then we ask the patient to walk first on his heels, then on his toes (we help maintain balance, if necessary). We assess whether the patient lifts his heels/toes off the floor. The heel-walking test is especially important, since dorsiflexion of the foot is affected in many neurological diseases.

The therapist asks the patient to walk in an imaginary straight line in a heel-toe position so that the heel of the striding leg is directly in front of the toes of the other leg (tandem walking). Tandem walking is a test that is more sensitive to balance disorders than the Romberg test. If the patient performs well on this test, other tests for upright stability and trunk ataxia, including the heel-knee test, are likely to be negative.

Gait disturbances occur in a variety of neurological diseases, as well as in muscular and orthopedic pathologies. The nature of walking disorders depends on the underlying disease.

“Cerebellar” gait is characterized by the fact that when walking the patient spreads his legs wide apart; unstable in standing and sitting positions; has different step lengths; deviates to the side (towards the lesion with unilateral damage to the cerebellum). Cerebellar gait is often described as “wobbly” or “drunk.” Probable causes are multiple sclerosis, cerebellar tumor, hemorrhage, cerebellar infarction, cerebellar degeneration. The gait with posterior funicular sensitive ataxia (“tabetic” gait) is characterized by pronounced instability when standing and walking, despite good strength in the legs. The movements in the legs are jerky and sharp; when walking, the different lengths and heights of the steps attract attention. The patient looks intently at the road in front of him (his gaze is “fixed” to the floor or to the ground). Characterized by loss of muscle-joint sensation and vibration sensitivity in the legs. In the Romderg position with eyes closed, the patient falls. Probable causes are multiple sclerosis, compression of the posterior cords of the spinal cord (tumor), tabes dorsalis, funicular myelosis (vitamin B2 deficiency).

"Hemipleginic" gait is observed in patients with spastic hemiparesis or hemiplegia. The patient “drags” the straightened paralyzed leg (there is no flexion in the hip, knee, or ankle joints), her foot is internally rotated, and the outer edge touches the floor. With each step, the paralyzed leg describes a semicircle, lagging behind the healthy leg. The arm is bent and brought towards the body.

“Paraplegic” spastic gait is slow, with small steps. The toes touch the floor, the legs have difficulty lifting off the floor when walking, “cross” due to increased tone of the adductor muscles, and bend poorly at the knee joints due to increased tone of the extensor muscles. It is observed with bilateral damage to the pyramidal systems (with multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, long-term compression of the spinal cord, etc.).

“Parkinsonian” gait is shuffling, with small steps, propulsions (the patient begins to move faster and faster while walking, as if catching up with his center of gravity, and cannot stop), difficulties in initiating and completing walking (it is difficult to start walking and difficult to stop). The torso is tilted forward when walking, the arms are bent at the elbow joints and pressed to the torso, and are motionless when walking (acheirokins). If a standing patient is slightly pushed in the chest, he begins to move backward (retropulsion). In order to turn around its axis, the patient needs to take up to 20 small steps. When walking, you may experience “freezing” in the most uncomfortable position.

A “cock” gait (stepping gait, stamping gait, “falling foot”) is observed when the dorsiflexion of the foot is impaired. When walking, the toe of a “dangling” foot often touches the floor. As a result, when walking, the patient is forced to raise his leg high and throw it forward, while he slams the front of the foot on the floor. However, the steps are of equal length. Unilateral stepping is observed with compression of the common peroneal nerve, bilateral - with motor polyneuropathy, both congenital (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) and acquired. The “duck” gait is characterized by rocking the pelvis and swaying from one foot to the other. It is observed with bilateral weakness of the pelvic girdle muscles, primarily the gluteus medius muscle. If the hip abductor muscles are weak, the pelvis on the opposite side drops during the standing phase on the affected leg.

Weakness of both gluteus medius muscles leads to a bilateral violation of the fixation of the thigh of the supporting leg, the pelvis lowers and rises excessively when walking, and the torso “rolls over” from side to side. Due to weakness of other proximal leg muscles, patients experience difficulty climbing stairs, getting out of a chair, and getting into vehicles.

Rising from a sitting position is done with the help of the hands, and the patient rests his hands on the thigh or knee and only in this way achieves straightening of the body. The most common causes are progressive muscular dystrophies and other myopathies; from non-neurological diseases - congenital dislocations of the hips.

“Dystonic” gait occurs in patients with hyperkinesis - chorea, athetosis, muscular dystonia. As a result of involuntary movements, the legs move slowly and awkwardly, and involuntary movements are observed in the arms and torso. This gait is called “dancing”, “twitching”.

A lnthalgic gait is a reaction to pain - the patient spares the leg that hurts, moving it very carefully and trying to load mainly the second, healthy leg

Hysterical gait can be very different, but does not have those typical signs that are characteristic of certain diseases. The patient may not lift his leg off the floor at all, dragging it, may demonstrate pushing away from the floor (as when skating), or may sway sharply from side to side, however, avoiding falls, etc.

Shakes when walking: what is the reason and how to get rid of the disease

If you are swaying (swaying) when walking, or have a feeling of a “floating” environment, then most often the root of the disease lies in vegetative-vascular dysfunction (VSD), pathological processes in the parts of the spinal column, pressure surges, head injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke.

Unsteadiness of gait in vascular and autonomic disorders

Often, unsteadiness of gait is directly related to vascular headaches, which manifest themselves against the background of disturbances in cerebral blood flow. Vascular cephalgia is characterized by:

• localization in the occipital part;
• exhausting, strong and throbbing pain radiating to the temples;
• a feeling of unreality, a feeling that the world around is “spinning” and “spinning”;
• visual deviations, including flickering “grid” before the eyes.

Patients complain of a fear of open spaces, an irresistible desire to be near any support. Many people note that before going out they feel a heaviness in the head and muscle tension. Movements become clumsy and uncoordinated. For no apparent reason, the head aches and feels dizzy, and weakness sets in.

Factors influencing instability

Doctors note that uncertainty and swaying while walking with VSD are associated with the following reasons:

• Firstly, with impaired consciousness. Main symptoms: vision becomes cloudy, the surrounding “picture” loses clear outlines and becomes foggy, dizziness, suffocation, and often the person is in a pre-fainting state.
• Secondly, with constant thoughts of being unwell. They create an imbalance in the body. Patients often notice that when they forget about the pathology and their head is “clear,” the unsteadiness disappears.
• Thirdly, with tightness and stiffness of muscle fibers. Why are the muscles tight? Chronic stress, fear, and depression make them this way. The muscle mass of the neck and back tenses, the limbs tremble, the head feels dizzy, and coordination is lost.

How to improve the condition?

It is important to “get to the bottom” of the causes of blood pressure surges, panic attacks, unreasonable fears, etc. After all, the main factors of instability during VSD, fogginess and headaches, vertigo are hidden in the lability of the nervous system, constant stress-anxiety and depressive states.

You should follow the instructions not only of therapists and neurologists, but also contact psychotherapists or psychiatrists with the problem. You will have full information about the causes of the malfunction in the body and know what to do to eliminate the “provocateurs” of the disease. Please note that almost 10% of gait imbalance and head ailments in VSD are associated with thyroid dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmia.

Balance imbalance in cervical osteochondrosis

If the gait becomes stumbling, with “drunk” elements, and at the same time the head is dizzy and noisy, then the pathology may be caused by collar (cervical) osteochondrosis. Unstability, loss of balance and swaying are accompanied by:

• sensation of cotton plugs in the ears;
• aching and lasting cephalalgia, which sharply intensifies with head movements;
• soreness in the neck and face;
• increased heart rate;
• profuse sweating;
• redness or pallor of the epithelium.

Effective ways to improve your condition

It is important to understand that it is impossible to restore a confident gait without treating cervical osteochondrosis, which provokes it. Doctors may prescribe:

• Taking pharmacological agents that dilate and tonic blood vessels, enhancing brain nutrition.
• Do traction and fixation of the collar area, regularly carry out water procedures, and perform a complex (individually selected!) of physical therapy.
• Stick to a diet enriched with vitamins B, C, etc.

A visit to the doctors should not be postponed if the lethargy of the legs is rapidly progressing. It is necessary to conduct a full and comprehensive examination so as not to ignore any anomalies that require immediate surgical intervention. For example, a herniated (prolapsed) intervertebral disc pinching nerve tissue can sharply worsen the condition.

Recipes from the folk treasury will help

The combination of chemicals with simple folk recipes will help you quickly overcome cervical osteochondrosis and restore a light and confident gait:

1. Make potato-honey compresses regularly. Mix fresh potatoes with honey and apply to painful areas of the neck.
2. Prepare a mixture of aloe juice, vodka, honey and radish - mix 2 tbsp. spoons of each component. Drink once a day before meals.
3. Pour boiling water (1 l) over chopped celery root (3 g), leave for 8 hours, strain. Drink 1 dessert spoon three times a day on an empty stomach.

Other causes of instability

Be aware that weak legs, unbalanced gait, vertigo and brain fog may be due to other factors, including:

• With sudden jumps in blood pressure, the brain does not receive enough nutrients.
• Abuse of drugs (especially sedatives), alcohol.
• After suffering a stroke. Disturbed (hemiplegic) gait is a residual phenomenon of the disease.
• With bilateral damage to the frontal lobe, cerebellar hemispheres, medial zone of the cerebellum.

Unsteadiness when walking and standing

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Post edited by user Okeannicheskaya 26.03.:22

I had an MRI and there weren’t any significant changes, I’ve already seen a bunch of doctors and taken a bunch of medications, only Velaxin helps, but even then the unsteadiness still remains. It’s especially unsteady when it’s dark, and there are always streaks of spots in front of my eyes.

Post edited by user Okeannicheskaya 26.03.:37

prof. Kazantseva N.V.

Tanya, hello! I have the same problem))) only diagnosed with astheno-depressive syndrome. I sway like a sailor on deck, both when I stand and when I walk. 1.5 years ago this also happened, I took Velafax, forgot what it was for a year, and now it’s all over again)))) They have now prescribed Atarax and Eglonil, so far at the same level))) How are you coping?

unsteadiness when walking

Golovokrujenie

uje 4 mesyacev ya nemogu chotko xodit,dumayu upadu sechas,shatayus to v levo to v pravo,osobeno kogda ustayu,eto priesxodit postayano,vrachi opsledovali organizm v poryadke,nervolog i psixiator govoryat proydot,no ya uje ne veryu,i muchayus,uje na robotu ne xoju,ya xochu uznat eto voopshe proxodit,i kak izbavitsya ot etovo,i naskolko opasno

I feel like I want to know the answer to this very question: what happens to a person after death.

I read the forum for a long time and realized that much of what was written and commented on was relevant to me. I will share my story and hope that I will receive a response on the forum or a comment from a specialist on this matter. I'll start with conditions such as:

1. increased or rapid heartbeat;

2. difficulty breathing;

3. discomfort in the stomach;

4. feeling dizzy, unsteady, or faint;

Especially 5. derealization (a feeling that objects are unreal) or depersonalization (a feeling of unreality about one’s own “I”);

Now the PA is gone, but the unsteadiness of gait has begun to appear again

Please tell me how to deal with the following two symptoms:

1. Unsteadiness of gait. This is where my phobic neurosis began. But then she disappeared, and PA, obsessive thoughts, and derealization appeared. Now the PA, obsessive thoughts have gone away, derealization seems to be going away little by little, but the unsteadiness of the gait has begun to appear again. The chiropractor assures me that this has nothing to do with my cervical osteochondrosis, which everyone has.

Could this be a symptom of my long-term mental stress? Or is it because the vessels are spasmodic?

Hello. I don’t know how to get out of a difficult life situation. I’ve been sick for 5.5 years now, since I was 20. It all started with classic PA, it all happened in the presence of strangers, it was scary and embarrassing. The attack occurred after severe stress. It began suddenly. The fear of a recurrence of the attack remains to this day; I think I have developed a kind of social phobia; I am afraid to spend the night in someone else’s house. After the PA, I had a terrible condition for two weeks - dizziness, “someone else’s head,” it felt like a high temperature, but all the examinations did not reveal any pathology at that time.

This hesitation bothers me, I know that this is a symptom of anxiety, but maybe I should still drink betaserc.

Hello Oleg Mikhailovich. I keep taking Cipralex 1.5 tablets and Finlepsin 0.5 at night, but this unsteadiness does not go away, I am already exhausted, it really bothers me. I went to my psychiatrist, asked what could be done, he told you I’m not a help desk or a psychotherapist, but a psychiatrist, I shouldn’t answer your various questions and said that he could refuse me altogether because... I don’t have a mental illness, I just had panic attacks with agoraphobia. I asked if I could add betaserc in addition to Finlepsin and Cipralex, to which he said do whatever you want, goodbye.

Unsteadiness of gait is not a diagnosis, but a symptom that serves as a manifestation of a disease. Therefore, when it appears, you should immediately consult a doctor for examination.

The main reason is vascular spasm, which is caused by tension in the muscles of the back, in particular the neck. This often happens with increased anxiety and tension. In this case, the main treatment should not be medication, but rather be carried out through sessions with a psychotherapist.

Another common cause of unsteadiness is cervical osteochondrosis, which is diagnosed very often these days. Dizziness and darkening of the eyes may be added to this symptom. This happens due to the incorrect position of the vertebrae, which compress the vessels, and blood cannot flow into the brain in the required amount, which is why its cells are left without oxygen, which is reflected in the manifestation of a variety of symptoms.

However, the causes of unsteadiness when walking can be more serious. For example, diseases characterized by this symptom can be considered:

1. Early cerebellar ataxia.
2. Late neurosyphilis.
3. Cerebellar tumors.
4. Meningeal tuberculoma.
5. Acute disseminated encephalitis.
6. Candidal meningitis.
7. Arnold-Cairo anomaly.
8. Brain abscess.
9. Drug-induced polyneuropathy.

But this is not the entire list of reasons that can cause unsteadiness in gait, so to make a correct diagnosis, as well as to prescribe treatment, you must definitely consult a doctor.

By type, this condition can be divided into systemic and non-systemic. The first type includes lesions of the vestibular and auditory apparatus, as well as diseases of the brain and spinal cord. Non-systemic manifestations are consequences of chronic diseases of the heart, blood vessels, endocrine and respiratory systems.

The essence of the disease

Unsteadiness of gait without dizziness is a common manifestation. This is a dystrophic disease of cartilage and bone tissue, which manifests itself mainly in adulthood. The basis of the disease is dystrophy of the intervertebral discs. All this negatively affects the blood supply, nutrition and hydration of the intervertebral disc. And the resulting deformation leads to a strong narrowing of the space between the vertebrae.

Due to the decrease in intervertebral space, spinal nerves may be pinched. The main symptoms of such an infringement will depend on where it happened - in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. If it is the neck, then the main manifestations are headache, dizziness and other manifestations associated with impaired nutrition of the brain. If this is the thoracic part of the spine, pain may appear in the heart area, which resembles the symptoms of myocardial infarction or angina. And if it is the lower back, then the symptoms may be in the form of impaired mobility in the legs, their weakness and decreased skin sensitivity.

Therefore, dizziness and unsteadiness of gait can be the cause of such an insidious disease as osteochondrosis. Due to compression of the nerve root, the transmission of impulses through it to the muscles of the legs is disrupted, and this can be either one leg or both. This is the cause of weakness in the legs.

What to do

Unsteadiness of gait with osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous sign that you should immediately pay attention to and see a doctor. This is especially dangerous when weakness in the legs gradually increases. But before starting treatment, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination so that the doctor can understand what caused this pathology and why this symptom appeared.

If pain occurs, it must be relieved with painkillers. Here you can use not only one drug, but also a mixture of several components. For example, solutions could be:

1. Analgin + no-spa + lasix + novocaine. All this is added to 150 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution and applied intravenously.
2. Baralgin + Relanium + Dexazone + Novocaine. All this is introduced into a 5% glucose solution in an amount of 200 ml and also dripped as an intravenous infusion.
3. Analgin + vitamin B12 + no-spa + reopirin. All drugs are mixed in one syringe and administered intramuscularly.

Unsteadiness of gait with osteochondrosis is a symptom that requires the prescription of other drugs, for example, pentoxifylline, which improves blood circulation, theonicol or nicotinic acid, and drugs that will stimulate the outflow of blood through the veins. Of course, we must also remember about the general strengthening effect of vitamin and mineral complexes, which help replenish the balance of nutrients in the body.

By the way, you may also be interested in the following FREE materials:

• Free books: "TOP 7 harmful exercises for morning exercises that you should avoid" | “6 Rules for Effective and Safe Stretching”
• Restoration of knee and hip joints with arthrosis- free video recording of the webinar conducted by a physical therapy and sports medicine doctor - Alexandra Bonina
• Free lessons on treating low back pain from a certified physical therapy doctor. This doctor has developed a unique system for restoring all parts of the spine and has already helped more than 2000 clients with various back and neck problems!
• Want to know how to treat a pinched sciatic nerve? Then carefully watch the video at this link.
• 10 essential nutritional components for a healthy spine- in this report you will learn what your daily diet should be so that you and your spine are always healthy in body and spirit. Very useful information!
• Do you have osteochondrosis? Then we recommend studying effective methods of treating lumbar, cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis without drugs.