Which gait is typically associated with foot drop and peripheral motor unit disease (neuropathy)?

• A. Festinating gait
• B. Ataxic gait
• C. Steppage gait
• D. Trendelenburg gait

Answer: (C)

Foot drop means the ankle cannot dorsiflex, usually from weakness of the dorsiflexor muscles due to peripheral neuropathy. To clear the foot during the swing phase, the leg is lifted with exaggerated knee and hip flexion, producing a high-stepping, steppage gait. This compensatory pattern is classic for weakness from a peripheral motor unit process. Other gaits fit different problems: festinating gait is a Parkinsonian shuffling pattern, ataxic gait is wide-based and unsteady from cerebellar or sensory problems, and Trendelenburg gait arises from hip abductor weakness causing pelvis droop during stance. So the steppage gait best matches foot drop and peripheral motor unit disease.