Study for the Parkinson’s Disease Exam. Engage with detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which gait is associated with wide-based, unsteady gait with dysmetria and intention tremor?

Dysmetria and intention tremor are classic signs of cerebellar dysfunction, which coordinates movement and balance. When the cerebellum is affected, the gait becomes wide-based and unsteady as the body tries to compensate for poor coordination. Dysmetria causes overshooting or undershooting of movements, and intention tremor appears as tremor that worsens as you approach a target. Taken together, these features define cerebellar ataxia. Other gait patterns reflect different problems: steppage gait comes from foot drop and high stepping; Parkinsonian gait shows shuffling with small steps and reduced arm swing; sensory ataxia results from proprioceptive loss and is often worse with eyes closed, without the limb-targeting signs of cerebellar dysfunction.

Dysmetria and intention tremor are classic signs of cerebellar dysfunction, which coordinates movement and balance. When the cerebellum is affected, the gait becomes wide-based and unsteady as the body tries to compensate for poor coordination. Dysmetria causes overshooting or undershooting of movements, and intention tremor appears as tremor that worsens as you approach a target. Taken together, these features define cerebellar ataxia.

Other gait patterns reflect different problems: steppage gait comes from foot drop and high stepping; Parkinsonian gait shows shuffling with small steps and reduced arm swing; sensory ataxia results from proprioceptive loss and is often worse with eyes closed, without the limb-targeting signs of cerebellar dysfunction.