Why when walking staggers, instability, dizziness: possible causes and treatment of a shaky slow gait. How to get rid of a shaky, uncertain gait: medicine, vestibular gymnastics

If you stagger when walking, this may be the cause of some kind of illness or a consequence of injury. Unsteadiness and other abnormalities during walking can be caused by damage to the parts in the nervous system that are responsible for controlling leg movements. Sometimes an unsteady gait provokes arthritis, injuries of the spine or lower extremities. Muscle bruises, foot deformities, which can appear even due to the use of uncomfortable shoes, can lead to a similar condition. With unsteady gait, osteochondrosis also cannot be excluded from this list.

Often, an unsteady gait provokes a stroke. Also, the cause of uncertain movements when walking can be Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

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

A shaky gait with osteochondrosis appears due to infringement of the spinal nerves. Symptoms depend on the location of the pinch. With degenerative processes, this can occur in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine.

With the defeat of the cervical intervertebral discs, the patient feels a headache, dizziness, high blood pressure are possible. If the thoracic spine is affected, then the disease can manifest itself as pain in the heart. With osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, weakness in the legs, numbness of the extremities, and a decrease in the 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 infringement of the nerves that leads to the instability of the gait.

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 cervical osteochondrosis can cause such a pathology. Loss of balance may also be accompanied by the following phenomena:

• tinnitus;
• aching cephalgia, aggravated by turning the head;
• pain in the neck;
• increased heart rate;
• increased sweating.

How to regain a confident gait

In order to feel confident in your legs again, it is naturally necessary to treat the cause that provoked the instability. To do this, you must definitely visit the doctors. Actually, the treatment of osteochondrosis is accompanied by the appointment of certain pharmacological agents that contribute to the expansion and increase in vascular tone, as well as increased blood supply to the brain.

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

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

If your gait has become uncertain, 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 on the video:

Natalia Tumanova

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1. Cute User

   Good afternoon. I am 35 years old, female, weight 80 kg (nursing mother).
   Complaints during the year: sitting - strongly shakes the body to the sides, when walking - unsteadiness, when tilting the body and head - crunching, spasm and dizziness, when raising the arms up - crunching, heaviness between the shoulder blades. Tremor and weakness in the arms and legs. Vision - worsened, blurred (blurred, foggy), flies before the eyes. Often nausea. Dizziness is not systemic, associated with turning the head or body. Pressure tends to increase. Frequent tachycardia and shortness of breath. Chills and flushes of heat 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. The thoracic region: signs of deforming spondylosis against the background of a violation of statics. Lumbar: rectified lordosis, osteochondrosis.
   Duplex of the artery of the head and neck: tortuosity of the vertebral arteries, vertebrogenic effect on the vertebral arteries from both sides. Diameter of the vertebral arteries: on the right-3.3 mm, on the left-3.1 mm.
   REG and EEG-no features.
   General blood tests, urine, biochemistry are normal.
   Hormones are normal.
   Established diagnoses: osteochondrosis, VSD, GBN, VBN.
   Treatment: massage, physiotherapy, physical therapy (at the clinic), vascular preparations - no result ... the condition is deteriorating.
   Please help me to make a diagnosis and, most importantly, a treatment method!

2. Vladimir Vorotyntsev

   You need to seek help from a chiropractor.

3. Cute User

   Thank you! Tell me, in case of violation of statics, aren't the manipulations carried out by chiropractors dangerous?
   I forgot to mention one more thing. I have a Vnchs. The jaw crunches, in the supine position it moves back, there is pain on one side. In one session, the osteopath helped to set it, but only for 2 days. Everything is back again. Is it possible for TMJ to be related to my condition?

4. Nikolai Nikolaevich

   Thank you! Tell me, in case of violation of statics, aren't the manipulations carried out by chiropractors dangerous?
   I forgot to mention one more thing. I have a Vnchs. The jaw crunches, in the supine position it moves back, there is pain on one side. In one session, the osteopath helped to set it, but only for 2 days. Everything is back again. Is it possible for TMJ to be related to my condition?

   Click to reveal...

   Not dangerous if the impact is adequate, but still I recommend looking for a chiropractor practicing SOFT methods of m / t.

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

5. klyuha Experienced Guru

6. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

   It's simple, this method was first tested on itself. Every day in our clinic this technique is used, improvements are noted by more than 80% of patients. For all the time not one side effect! As for the study, the blood viscosity was taken on the controller; in 10 out of 10, the viscosity decreases, no other studies were carried out. Believe it or not, it's up to you, I do not impose my opinion on anyone.

7. AIR Manual therapist, Ph.D.

   Complaints during the year: sitting - strongly shakes the body to the sides, when walking - unsteadiness, when tilting the body and head - crunching, spasm and dizziness, when raising the arms up - crunching, heaviness between the shoulder blades. Tremor and weakness in the arms and legs. Vision - worsened, blurred (blurred, foggy), flies before the eyes. Often nausea. Dizziness is not systemic, associated with turning the head or body. Pressure tends to increase. Frequent tachycardia and shortness of breath. Chills and flushes of heat and cold. Heat in the neck, spasm in neck and shoulders. When turning the head to the sides, "roll in the head"

   Click to reveal...

   The vast majority of complaints may well be associated not only with other causes, but also with problems of the cervical spine. careful and experienced manual therapist who can diagnose and eliminate disorders of the muscular-tonic (and not only) nature.

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

8. Vladimir Vorotyntsev Physician - manual therapist, rehabilitation specialist

   What Actovegin, colleague! Do you really poison 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, it is unreasonable to "leak" a vein in the absence of indications for intensive care measures.

9. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

   What Actovegin, colleague! Do you really poison 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, it is unreasonable to "leak" a vein in the absence of indications for intensive care measures.

   Click to reveal...

   Yes, that's how we work, we poison patients with actovegin and "leak" veins with "quack" ozone. But at the same time I get an excellent result, which I am satisfied with.

10. incognito Newbie

    Hello .
    I will answer you, and there, as you know, you will go this way or not.
    I will answer with my own example. At the beginning of July, after not sleeping for 2 days and quite a bit of stress, my head began to hurt. I'm 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, turned to a neurologist with an experience of 27 years in a paid decent neurological clinic in a millionaire city. There was also unsteadiness of gait when she checked me with her eyes closed while walking in the office. She was diagnosed with VSD. She prescribed a tranquilizer, mexidol (5 droppers), a muscle relaxant and magne B6. I have read about all this. Realized it could take a long time.
    Maybe I did it wrong, but I didn’t go on droppers, although I’m not afraid of them. I bought a complex of vitamins B and mexidol in tablets. He took Mexidol at the maximum dosage, although he understood that droppers were more effective. I figured that if I feel any better within 2-4 days off the pills, I'll go right away and do some more drips and start taking the rest. It didn’t get any easier, and all the next week there was this unusual dull, sometimes bursting pain in the head and the deprivation of almost 2/3 of working capacity (I have mental work). I did another head MRI and called her. She said that the diagnosis was valid and said that it would be a long time.
    I decided that I didn’t want it to be long and decided to use my old method, which I have been using for 20 years and which, by the way, has long been approved by the Russian Ministry of Health, but is not very popular. RDT method or in another way therapeutic starvation. I decided to abstain from food for a period. Started abstinence. After 2 days, he also stopped drinking water. Spent 8 days without food and 3 and a half of them including without water.
    On the 3rd day of abstinence from food, the headache almost disappeared. Passed by 80 percent. In the future, it either did not exist, or a small one appeared, no more than 20% of the original. At the recovery stage, after 7-8 days, the headache completely disappeared and has not yet recurred. In total, for the past 20 days (3 weeks) I have not had a headache and all the signs of this VSD have disappeared. I understand that now doctors can be indignant, say that this is not a method, for which I recommend doctors to read Professor Yu. ), but also such formidable diseases as schizophrenia. I will not argue with doctors, since doctors in the bulk, except for curing acute diseases with a pill, can do nothing more when it comes to diseases that are more complicated and longer. Well, acute, they basically go away on their own.
    So try fasting for at least 9-10 days with 2-3 days without water. If possible, refrain from eating longer. Just read the literature first. And you will be cured. And all these chiropractors, doctors - it's all a waste of money. The only thing is, you can go to the doctor for a diagnosis, but they have already been given to you. I hope my experience will help others to heal as well. 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, doctors - it's all a waste of money. The only thing is, you can go to the doctor for a diagnosis, but they have already been given to you. I hope my experience will help others to heal as well. Osteochondrosis, protrusions and hernias are also eliminated by this method or at least reduced. Proven by practitioners.

    Click to reveal...

    Here is the schedule.
    
    Often, doctors characterize VVD with the term "diagnostic garbage can", which perfectly characterizes this pseudo-diagnosis.

12. Cute User

    Thanks to the doctors for the discussions and advice about manual therapy. I saw 5 osteopaths and none of them could help me. Soft methods of exposure were also used. Another thing strikes me .... no one can establish a diagnosis. what causes body sway and instability...
    As for fasting... I think this is definitely not my option. A sick heart and thyroid-like experiments are contraindicated.

13. Nikolai Nikolaevich Neurologist, chiropractor, UVT specialist

    An osteopath is not a manual therapist. Cervical MRI is a must!
    what affects what is described on the duplex
    

14. Vladimir Vorotyntsev Physician - manual therapist, rehabilitation specialist

    here is the schedule.
    Vladimir Vorotyntsev and we are still discussing Actovegin here, everyone should starve, period
    incognito what are you talking about??? There is not any - VVD, does not exist in nature, just as it is not in the international classifier of diseases ICD 10. According to the historically established tradition, under the VVD in Russia, they often write off the symptoms characteristic of anxiety-neurotic disorders, and the typical manifestations of a "panic attack ”- it is customary to call a vegetative crisis. Therefore, behind the abbreviation VVD, especially among "emotional natures", a banal neurosis is more often hidden, to be treated by a psychotherapist. There are no clear and intelligible criteria, the very pseudo-diagnosis of "VVD", which does not exist in modern medicine at all.
    Often, doctors characterize VVD with the term "diagnostic garbage can", which perfectly characterizes this pseudo-diagnosis.

    Click to reveal...

    I spoke only about Actovegin, the most dangerous for human health, and the stupidity of intravenous administration of drugs in the absence of indications for intensive care measures!

15. doclega Radiologist

    In the cervical region without pathology. In the lumbar region - degenerative changes.

No one thinks about the mechanism of coordination and retention in the surrounding space of the body until the moment when there is a failure in its work. Loss of the ability to balance has various symptoms, but they are all characterized by sudden attacks that lead to an unsteady gait and even falls. Most often, the head is spinning when walking, when it suddenly begins to stagger and a feeling of intoxication appears. This phenomenon requires urgent medical attention.

The reasons

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

Vertigo is divided into:

• On system. They are also called "true" vertigo. Manifested by the rotation of the body itself or surrounding objects. In gait, unsteadiness appears, as in a state of intoxication. Sometimes there is an attack of nausea.
• For non-system. They are distinguished by darkness in the eyes and a pre-fainting state.

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

Spinning of the head when walking occurs without serious reason. An abrupt stop, turning the neck during movement, instability of the body - this causes temporary vertigo. The spin lasts for a few seconds. Real dizziness is caused by poisoning with harmful components: exhaust gases, paint fumes, side effects of drugs, alcohol intoxication.

Diseases that cause unsteady gait

Violation of the vestibular apparatus is the main cause when dizziness appears when walking. If the device is working normally, then the processing of changes occurs 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, unsteadiness of gait appears. The vestibular apparatus fails with neuronitis, otitis, Meniere's disease.

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

Epilepsy and hydrocephalus cause severe dizziness. It may be difficult for the patient to prevent a fall without moving forward. Oddly enough, but muscle tone remains normal. Sitting, movements are made effortlessly 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 haunted by panic attacks, and many have hypotension. In this case, dizziness is the result of ailments.

Diagnostics

If the head began to spin during movement often and for no apparent reason, then the help of a doctor is required. An experienced specialist will find the cause of the disorder, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

You should immediately contact a medical institution if:

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

First, a visit is made to the therapist. In the arsenal of this doctor there are enough methods of self-diagnosis. In extreme cases, the patient will be referred to a narrow specialist. Modern medicine has ample opportunities, and the disease has no chance to "hide". To establish an accurate diagnosis will help: MRI, ultrasound, ECG and laboratory diagnostics.

Treatment

The goal of therapy is to localize the disease that caused the disorder. It is necessary to calm the vestibular apparatus with drugs and strengthen it with physiotherapy.

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

If you feel dizzy during normal walking, certain groups of drugs are used:

• Tranquilizers alleviate panic attacks and emotional tension.
• Diuretics eliminate the unsteadiness of gait, facilitate the onset of Meniere's disease.
• Antihistamines will slow down the dizziness.
• Means based on betahistine are used for periodic dizziness. Treatment with these drugs gives a quick effect, eliminating the symptoms.
• In case of uncertain walking due to dizziness, brain stimulation agents are used: Cavinton and Bravinton. It is desirable to include a complex of vitamins in the treatment.

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

Traditional procedures apply:

• phonophoresis;
• magnetotherapy;
• electrophoresis;
• acupuncture;
• massage;
• medicinal baths.

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

Possible consequences

Dizziness while walking leads to a feeling of insecurity, as it can come on suddenly. In addition to falling, there is a risk of developing a condition where a person will restrict movement outside the home and will prefer to stay at home. Over time, this will significantly reduce physical activity, which will lead to a deterioration in the functioning of the body.

Dizziness, not being a separate disease, can tell a lot to the attending physician. Modern medicine is able to prevent the exacerbation of many pathologies and detect their development in the initial stage.

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

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

To the second - weakness in the limbs due to a stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, encephalopathy and other diseases.

Unsteadiness is sometimes 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 self-care ability.

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-articular structure. However, traditionally the term "osteochondrosis" is used mainly in relation to the defeat of the spine.

The essence of the pathological process in this disease is that dystrophic changes occur in the intervertebral disc (cartilaginous “pad” between the vertebrae): impaired blood supply, poor nutrition, fluid loss. Disk deformation leads to a narrowing of the space between the vertebrae, changing its configuration.

As a result, spinal nerves can be infringed in the intervertebral space. If the infringement occurs in the cervical region, there is pain in the neck, shoulder, weakness in the arm. Osteochondrotic lesion of the thoracic region is manifested primarily by back pain.

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

What causes these symptoms

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

Throughout the spinal column, spinal nerves emerge from it. Part of the branches of these nerve trunks provides the sensitivity of certain areas of the skin, the other part controls the activity of skeletal muscles. The branches supplying the musculature, after exiting the spine, form nerve plexuses and only then go to the muscles.

The nerves that "lead" the work of the legs come out of 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 a control impulse to several muscles of the lower extremities. If the nerve root is compressed in the intervertebral space, the conduction of the nerve impulse to the muscles worsens, weakness appears in the leg (or both legs with bilateral damage). Due to weakness, the gait becomes unsteady.

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

What to do

Unsteadiness of gait is a rather serious symptom. It is urgent to see a doctor, especially if the weakness in the legs is growing rapidly. A full examination is necessary in order to exclude situations requiring surgical intervention. Such conditions may include, for example, a progressive herniated disc that compresses the nerve tissue.

Causes of staggering when walking

A symptomatic sign of many diseases is staggering when walking. In the presence of such a symptom, it is necessary to undergo a consultation examination of 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 that has arisen, 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 operation 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 the 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 rate of motor activity during walking is due to the unhindered transmission of nerve signals through the pyramidal structure, which consists of different levels of the central nervous system.

Plexuses of nerves contribute to the passage of a nerve impulse, which gives a signal to the muscle tissue.

As a result of the occurrence of abnormal changes that prevent the transmission of momentum, staggering occurs during movement.

The symptomatic picture that characterizes the change in gait completely depends on which part of the spinal column has a disorder in the transmission of impulse signals by nerve cells. Thus, a wobbly gait, accompanied by symptoms:

• Headache, dizziness, impaired blood flow to the brain - this is a pathology in the cervical region;
• Pain in the heart, signs of a pre-infarction condition, symptoms of angina pectoris are anomalies of the thoracic region;
• Feeling of weakness, instability, tingling in the lower extremities is the inferiority of the work of the plexus of nerve fibers of the lumbar and sacral spinal column.

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

Characteristic features of a wobbly gait

Staggering when walking has certain features that can be used to talk about the onset or progress of a disease.

Such signs include:

• Violation of coordination of movements for an unknown reason;
• The frequency of stumbling;
• A series of frequent falls with weakness in the legs;
• Unnaturally sweeping gait;
• Difficulty climbing up flights of stairs;
• Difficulty moving the legs after a long rest;
• Falling onto the back when lifting the body from a sitting position;
• When walking, the effect of "filling up" on one side of the body is manifested;
• Stepping movement with support on the heel.

Symptom characteristic

The 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 a change in gait is due to a fairly large list of diseases that have such a symptom. As a result, such pathological changes in walking can be combined into groups according to the causes of occurrence.

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

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

The third group of causes is emotional and mental disorders.

First group

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

• 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 a painful lesion of the joints;
• Cartilage diseases;
• Diseases of the bone structure;
• Foot deformity;
• Bruises of the muscle tissue of the lower extremities;
• Leg injuries of various nature.

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, with injuries of a different nature.

Second group

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

Staggering when walking is a sign of serious diseases:

• Oncological processes of the brain;
• atherosclerotic disease;
• Functional disorders of the central nervous system;
• Stroke of hemorrhagic type;
• Purulent inflammation of the brain tissue;
• Neurodegenerative processes of the nervous system with impaired coordination function;
• Progressive neurodegenerative disease in combination with mental disorders and choreic hyperkinesia;
• 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 the brain tissue;
• Polyneuropathy resulting from the use of neurotoxic drugs;
• Disease of the central nervous system caused by pale treponema.

Third group

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

• Depressive states;
• Strong stress;
• neuroses;
• Violation of the 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 the vestibular apparatus. To determine the characteristics of movements, diagnostic methods are used:

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

It is also carried out:

An ophthalmologist, an otolaryngologist, an endocrinologist are appointed to make a correct diagnosis.

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

Treating unsteadiness when walking

Having identified the causal nature of gait disorders, the doctor offers a set of therapeutic agents:

• The unsteadiness of walking is caused by taking medications, then the dosage for the reception is reduced or the drug is changed;
• Depressive and psychological disorders are treated with vitamin complexes, a complete diet, normalization of the daily routine;
• In infectious processes, antibiotics are used;
• With 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 diseases, symptomatic treatment of the disease that caused the occurrence of gait disorders is carried out;
• In some cases, surgical intervention is used.

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

Staggering when walking, a growing feeling of weakness in the lower extremities - this is an occasion to consult a doctor for examinations and timely treatment, which will ensure human health and quality of life.

Neurology

standing and walking

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

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

We ask the patient to stand up straight, connect the feet (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 to any one side and whether the instability increases when the eyes are closed.

A patient who is unable to stand in a "feet together" position with their eyes open is likely to have cerebellar pathology. Such patients walk with their legs wide apart, unstable 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 symptom is the inability of the patient with closed eyes to maintain balance in a standing position with tightly shifted feet. For the first time this symptom was described in patients with dorsal tabes (tertiary syphilis) who had damage to the posterior cords of the spinal cord. Unsteadiness in this position with closed eyes is typical of sensitive ataxia. In patients with lesions of the cerebellum, instability in the Romberg position is already detected with the eyes open.

Analysis of walking is very important for the diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system. It must be remembered, however, that imbalances in walking can be masked by various compensatory techniques. In addition, gait disorders can be caused not by neurological, but by another pathology - for example, damage to the joints.

Walking is best assessed when the patient is unaware that they are being observed, such as when the patient enters the office. A healthy person's gait is fast, springy, light and energetic, and maintaining balance when walking does not require special attention or effort. When walking, the arms are slightly bent at the elbows (palms facing the hips) and perform movements in time with the steps.

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

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

The doctor asks the patient to turn while walking and notes how easy it is for him to turn; does the patient lose balance in this case; how many steps the patient needs 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 to maintain balance, if necessary). Assess whether the patient lifts heels/toes off the floor. The heel walking test is especially important, as dorsiflexion of the foot is affected by many neurological diseases.

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

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

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

A "hemiplegic" gait is seen in patients with spastic hemiparesis or hemiplegia. The patient "drags" the straightened paralyzed leg (there is no flexion in the hip, knee, ankle joints), her foot is rotated inwards, 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 to the body.

"Paraplegic" spastic gait - slow, with small steps. The toes touch the floor, while walking, the legs hardly come off the floor, “cross” due to an increase in the tone of the adductor muscles and poorly bend at the knee joints due to an increase in the tone of the extensor muscles. It is observed with bilateral lesions of the pyramidal systems (with multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, prolonged compression of the spinal cord, etc.).

"Parkinsonian" gait - shuffling, with small steps, propulsion (the patient starts to move faster and faster on the go, as if catching up with his center of gravity, and cannot stop), difficulty initiating and completing walking (it is difficult to start walking and difficult to stop). When walking, the torso is tilted forward, the arms are bent at the elbow joints and pressed to the body, while walking they are motionless (acheirokins). If the standing patient is slightly pushed in the chest, he begins to move backward (retro-pulsation). In order to turn around its axis, the patient needs to take up to 20 small steps. When walking, “freezing” in the most uncomfortable position can be observed.

"Cock" gait (steppage, stamping gait, "falling foot") is observed when the dorsiflexion of the foot is disturbed. The toe of the "hanging" foot when walking often catches the floor. As a result, the patient, when walking, 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. One-sided steppage 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 swaying of the pelvis and rolling from foot to foot. It is observed with bilateral weakness of the muscles of the pelvic girdle, primarily the gluteus medius. With weakness of the muscles that abduct the thigh, in the phase of standing on the affected leg, the pelvis lowers on the opposite side.

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

Getting up from a sitting position is done with the help of 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, involuntary movements are observed in the arms and torso. Such a gait is called "dancing", "twitching".

An antalgic gait is a response 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 the leg from the floor at all, dragging it, may show repulsion from the floor (as when skating), or may stagger sharply from side to side, however, avoiding falls, etc.

Shaking when walking: what is the cause and how to get rid of the disease

If you stagger (sway) when walking, embrace the feeling of a “floating” environment, then most often the root of the disease lies in vegetative-vascular dysfunction (VVD), pathological processes in the spinal column, pressure surges, head injuries, multiple sclerosis, stroke.

Unsteadiness of gait in vascular and autonomic disorders

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

• localization in the occipital part;
• exhausting, severe and throbbing pain, radiating to the temples;
• a feeling of unreality, a feeling that the world around "revolves" and "circles";
• visual deviations, including the flickering of the "grid" before the eyes.

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

Factors affecting instability

Doctors note that uncertainty and swaying while walking with VVD are associated with such reasons:

• First, with impaired consciousness. The main symptoms: blurred vision, the surrounding "picture" loses its clear outline and becomes foggy, dizzy, tormented by suffocation, often a person is in a fainting state.
• Secondly, with constant thoughts of malaise. They create an imbalance in the body. Often, patients notice that when they forget about the pathology and the head is “light”, the shakiness disappears.
• Thirdly, with tightness and stiffness of muscle fibers. Why are the muscles tight? Chronic stressful conditions, fears, depressions make them so. The muscle mass of the neck and back is tense, the limbs tremble, the head is spinning, 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 unsteadiness in VVD, cloudiness and pain in the head, vertigo are hidden in the lability of the nervous system, constant stress-anxiety and depressive states.

It is necessary to follow the instructions not only of therapists and neurologists, but also to address the problem to psychotherapists or psychiatrists. You will have full knowledge of the causes of failure in the body, know what to do to eliminate the "provocateurs" of the disease. Please note that almost 10% of gait imbalance and head ailments in VVD are associated with thyroid dysfunction, cardiac arrhythmia.

Disbalance in cervical osteochondrosis

If the gait becomes stumbling, with "drunk" elements and at the same time the head is spinning and noisy, then the pathology may be induced by collar (cervical) osteochondrosis. Unsteadiness, loss of balance and swaying are accompanied by:

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

Effective ways to improve the condition

It is important to understand that it is impossible to return a confident gait without treating the cervical osteochondrosis that provokes it. Physicians may prescribe:

• Taking pharmacological agents that dilate and tonic blood vessels, enhancing the nutrition of the brain.
• Do traction and fixation of the collar section, regularly carry out water procedures, perform a complex (individually selected!) of physiotherapy exercises.
• Eat a diet rich in 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 in order not to ignore anomalies that require urgent surgical intervention. For example, a hernia (prolapse) of the intervertebral disc, pinching the nerve tissue, can drastically 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, restore an easy and confident gait:

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

Other causes of instability

Keep in mind that flaccidity in the legs, unbalanced movement when walking, vertigo, and brain fog can occur due to other factors, including:

• With sharp jumps in blood pressure - the brain receives less nutrients.
• With the abuse of drugs (especially sedatives), alcohol.
• After suffering a stroke. Impaired (hemiplegic) gait is a residual phenomenon of the disease.
• With bilateral lesions of the frontal lobe, cerebellar hemispheres, medial zone of the cerebellum.

Unsteadiness when walking and when standing

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Post edited by Okeannicheskaya on 03/26:22

I went through an MRI, there were no particular changes, I already went around a bunch of doctors, and drank a bunch of drugs, only Velaxin helps, but even then the unsteadiness still remains. Particularly staggers when it is dark, and constantly flies before the eyes in the form of stripes.

Post edited by Okeannicheskaya on 03/26:37

prof. Kazantseva N.V.

Tanya, hi! I have the same trouble))) only diagnosing astheno-depressive syndrome. He staggers like a sailor on deck, both when I stand and when I walk. 1.5 years ago it was the same, I drank Velafax, for a year I forgot what it is, and now it's all over again)))) Atarax and Eglonil have been prescribed now, so far at the same level))) And 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

It feels 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 a lot of what was written and commented is relevant to me. I will share my story and hope that I will get a response on the forum or a comment from a specialist about this. I'll start with things like:

1. increased or rapid heartbeat;

2. difficulty in breathing;

3. discomfort in the abdomen;

4. feeling dizzy, unsteady or faint;

Especially 5. derealization (feeling that objects are unreal) or depersonalization (feeling of unreality about one's own "I");

Now the PA is gone, but now the unsteadiness of gait began to appear again

Please tell me how you can deal with the following two symptoms:

1. Unsteadiness of gait. This is where my phobic neurosis started. But then she disappeared, and PA appeared, obsessive thoughts, derealization. Now PA is gone, obsessive thoughts, derealization seems to be disappearing a little bit, but now the unsteadiness of 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 prolonged 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 have been ill for 5.5 years, since I was 20. It all started with classical PA, everything happened in the presence of strangers, it was scary and embarrassing. The attack was after severe stress. It began suddenly. The fear of a recurrence of the attack has remained to this day, I think a kind of social phobia has developed, I am afraid to spend the night in someone else's house. After the PA, there was a terrible condition for two weeks - dizziness, 'someone else's head', feeling like a high temperature, but all the examinations did not reveal any pathology at that time.

This staggering bothers me, I know that this is a symptom of anxiety, but I can still drink more betaserc.

Hello Oleg Mikhailovich. I keep drinking cipralex 1.5 tablets and finlepsin 0.5 at night, but this vacillation doesn’t go away, I’m already exhausted, it really bothers me. I went to my psychiatrist, asked what could be done, he told you that I am not a referral service and not a psychotherapist, but a psychiatrist, I should not answer your various questions and said that he could refuse me altogether. I don't have a mental illness, I just had panic attacks with agoraphobia. I asked if I could add betaserk to Finlepsin and Cipralex, to which he said do what 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 vasospasm, which is caused by tension in the muscles of the back, in particular the neck. This often happens with increased anxiety and stress. In this case, the main treatment should not be medication, but carried out with the help of 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 that compress the vessels, and the blood cannot enter the brain in the required amount, because of which its cells remain without oxygen, which is expressed in the manifestation of a variety of symptoms.

However, the causes of unsteadiness when walking can be more serious. So, for example, diseases for which this symptom is characteristic can be considered:

1. Early cerebellar ataxia.
2. Late neurosyphilis.
3. Tumors of the cerebellum.
4. Meningeal tuberculosis.
5. Acute disseminated encephalitis.
6. Candida meningitis.
7. Arnold-Cairo anomaly.
8. brain abscess.
9. Medicinal polyneuropathy.

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

In appearance, such a state 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 frequent manifestation. This is a degenerative disease of cartilage and bone tissue, which manifests itself mainly in adulthood. The basis of the disease is degeneration 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 the intervertebral space, the spinal nerves can be infringed. 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 malnutrition of the brain. If this is the thoracic part of the spine, pain in the heart area may appear, which resemble the symptoms of a myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. And if it is the lower back, then the symptoms can be in the form of impaired mobility in the legs, their weakness and reduced skin sensitivity.

Therefore, dizziness and unsteady gait can be the cause of such an insidious disease as osteochondrosis. Due to compression of the nerve root, the conduction of the impulse along it to the muscles of the legs is disrupted, and this can be either one leg or both. This is what causes weakness in the legs.

What to do

The unsteadiness of gait with osteochondrosis is a rather dangerous sign, which you must immediately pay attention to and go to the 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.

When pain occurs, it must be removed with the help of painkillers. Here you can use not only one drug, but also a mixture of several components. For example, solutions might be:

1. Analgin + no-shpa + 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 is also dripped as an intravenous infusion.
3. Analgin + vitamin B12 + no-shpa + reopyrin. All drugs are mixed in one syringe and administered intramuscularly.

Unsteadiness of gait in osteochondrosis is a symptom that requires the appointment 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 remember about the general strengthening effect of vitamin and mineral complexes, which help to 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 Bad Morning Exercises You Should Avoid" | "6 Rules for Effective and Safe Stretching"
• Restoration of knee and hip joints with arthrosis- free video recording of the webinar, which was conducted by the doctor of exercise therapy and sports medicine - Alexandra Bonina
• Free Low Back Pain Treatment Lessons from a Certified Physical Therapist. This doctor has developed a unique system for the restoration of all parts of the spine and has already helped over 2000 clients with various back and neck problems!
• Want to learn how to treat a pinched sciatic nerve? Then carefully watch the video on this link.
• 10 Essential Nutrition Components for a Healthy Spine- in this report you will find out what your daily diet should be so that you and your spine are always in a healthy body and spirit. Very useful information!
• Do you have osteochondrosis? Then we recommend that you study effective methods of treating lumbar, cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis without medication.