Trendelenburg gait

Trendelenburg gait

[trendel′ənbərg, tren′d(e)lənboo͡rg′]

Etymology: Friedrich Trendelenburg, German surgeon, 1844-1924

an abnormal gait associated with a weakness of the gluteus medius. It is characterized by the dropping of the pelvis on the unaffected side of the body at the moment of heelstrike on the affected side. In this deviation the pelvic drop during the walking cycle lasts until heelstrike on the unaffected side and is accompanied by an apparent lateral protrusion of the affected hip. The person with a Trendelenburg gait also shortens the step on the unaffected side and displays a lateral deviation of the entire trunk and the affected side during the stance phase of the affected lower limb. This gait is one of the more common gait deviations. Also called uncompensated gluteal gait. Compare compensated gluteal gait.