Trendelenburg Gait is an abnormal gait resulting from weak or defective hip abductor muscles. This muscle group includes both the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles. This walking pattern is characterized by the dropping of one side of the pelvis during the stance phase of walking. The result is a noticeable limp that can be painful. You may also feel the weakness in the affected leg. The nerve damage or muscle weakness may be caused by developmental disorders of the hip, osteoarthritis, muscular dystrophy, neurological conditions or stroke, but can also occur as a result of trauma to the hip from surgery.
Trendelenburg Gait can be disruptive, but is often treatable with orthotics or PT exercises designed to strengthen hip abductor muscles. Trendelenburg Gait may not always be fully correctable, but with treatment your gait may become smoother and steady, reducing risk of complications. Possible complications of chronic untreated Trendelenburg Gait include pinched nerves, hip grinding, the need for assistive devices, or death to bone tissue. If you experience weakness in your leg following a hip replacement, it’s important to seek help from a physical therapist as soon as possible to help prevent the condition from becoming permanent.