Which gait arises from loss of position sense in the legs due to polyneuropathy or posterior column damage?

• A. Steppage gait
• B. Parkinsonian gait
• C. Cerebellar ataxia
• D. Sensory ataxia

Answer: (D)

Proprioceptive loss in the legs disrupts the ability to know where the feet are in space. When position sense is impaired by polyneuropathy or posterior column damage, walking becomes unstable because the body can’t reliably gauge limb placement. The resulting gait is broad-based and unsteady, with irregular steps and a tendency to look to the ground to compensate; this is sensory ataxia. Patients often rely on vision to guide their steps, so the gait can worsen when vision is reduced (Romberg-positive tendency).

Other gaits come from different problems: a steppage gait comes from weakness of ankle dorsiflexors causing foot drop; a Parkinsonian gait features slow, shuffling steps with rigidity and festination; cerebellar ataxia reflects cerebellar dysfunction producing broad-based, irregular, and dysmetric movement with possible intention tremor. Sensory ataxia is specifically tied to loss of limb position sense, which is the hallmark here.