Which gait is characteristic of Parkinson disease due to basal ganglia defects?

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

Answer: (B)

Parkinsonian gait results from basal ganglia dysfunction that disrupts the initiation and scaling of movement, leading to bradykinesia, rigidity, and impaired automatic motor control. In walking, this shows as a stooped posture with very small, shuffling steps, reduced arm swing, and difficulty starting movements. As you try to walk, steps may become progressively faster and shorter (festination), and turning is often performed with a tight, en bloc turn rather than a smooth arc. These features reflect the impaired regulation of movement generation by the basal ganglia and are characteristic of Parkinson disease. By contrast, steppage gait comes from foot-drop weakness, cerebellar ataxia from cerebellar dysfunction producing a wide-based, unsteady gait, and sensory ataxia from proprioceptive loss with balance problems, often worse with eyes closed.