Which gait is described as toe clearance issues with dorsiflexor weakness and a high-stepping walk?

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

Answer: (A)

Toe clearance during the swing phase relies on dorsiflexion of the foot. When the dorsiflexors are weak, the foot tends to drop, creating foot drop. To avoid tripping, the person lifts the knee and hip higher to clear the toes, producing a high-stepping, steppage gait. This pattern is the classic description of steppage gait caused by dorsiflexor weakness.

Other gait patterns don’t fit this mechanism as precisely. Parkinsonian gait is marked by a shuffling, small-step pattern with reduced arm swing, not a high-stepping clear-the-foot strategy. Cerebellar ataxia gives a wide-based, unsteady gait with incoordination rather than a primary dorsiflexor weakness. Sensory ataxia shows gait imbalance from proprioceptive loss, often with a wide base and stumbling, not specifically toe clearance due to dorsiflexor weakness.