The so-called duck walk can be a sign of serious diseases of the hip joints. In this article we will talk about the signs of what diseases this pathology can be in adults and children. And also consider the reasons for the appearance of such a gait in pregnant women.
Causes of pathology in adults
"Duck walk" is typical for diseases of the hip joints, in particular coxarthrosis.
This disease is chronic and leads to the gradual destruction of the bone tissue that forms the hip joints. There are many reasons for the pathology, but the main one is considered to be permanent injury to the musculoskeletal system. The development of the disease leads to the fact that the joint space begins to narrow. In the last stages of the disease, it may disappear completely.
In adults, "duck gait" (the causes of the disease in children will be discussed below) can be caused mainly only by coxarthrosis. This pathology can develop in people of any age, with the exception of very young children. Men suffer from it more oftenthan women. This is due to the fact that their physical activity is usually higher. Elderly people are most susceptible to coxarthrosis. At this age, tissue nutrition begins to break down, and the body's ability to recover decreases.
How coxarthrosis develops
So, "duck gait" in which disease appears in adults? Basically, with coxarthrosis, since only the destruction of the joints can become its cause. But how does it happen and where does it start? How not to start the process and start treatment on time?
Regardless of what caused the appearance of the disease, it will always develop according to the same pattern. He althy joint surfaces always correspond to each other, so that the load is distributed evenly. However, due to various harmful effects, the hyaline cartilage, the main component of the articular cavity, is deformed. This leads to a violation of the congruence of the articular surfaces. And the consequence of this is an uneven distribution of the load on the joint during movement. That part of the cartilage, which accounts for most of the weight, gradually deforms and even cracks. And the surface of the joints becomes rough and uneven.
This process entails compensatory reactions. First, cartilage tissue begins to grow in the damaged area. If the load does not decrease, then it gradually dies, and bone is formed in its place. This leads to the formation of osteophytes (bone outgrowths), which gradually fill the joint. Around this time andappears "duck gait". It indicates an advanced state of the disease. If you do not start its treatment in time, then the joints may completely lose their mobility.
Causes of the disease
The cause of coxarthrosis may be:
- Degenerative senile changes.
- Dysplasia is a congenital pathology (we will talk about it in more detail below).
- Injuries.
- Infectious diseases that cause damage to the musculoskeletal system.
- Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head.
- Perthes disease.
There is also idiopathic coxarthrosis, the cause of which is still unknown to medicine.
Symptoms accompanying joint destruction
The danger of coxarthrosis is that it is diagnosed already in the later stages. The fact is that in the affected areas there is no swelling of tissues, various swellings, etc.
Let's list the main symptoms of the disease:
- Restriction of joint mobility - this sign appears quite early, but it can also be a symptom of another disease. The reason for it is the narrowing of the joint space.
- Distinct "crunch". Appears due to friction of the joints against each other. As the disease progresses, the volume of the emitted sound will increase.
- Pain. They appear due to damage to intra-articular structures and a decrease in the amount of intra-articular fluid. The more friction, the more pain the patient will experience.
- Muscularspasms. Occur due to the weakening of the joint capsules.
- Shortening the affected leg. Appears in the later stages. The leg on the side of the affected joint may be 1-2 cm shorter than the he althy one.
- "Duck walk" is another symptom that appears in the later stages. And it belongs to the extremely unfavorable signs. The reason for the appearance is that a person, due to changes, can no longer maintain balance with the correct position of the legs. Gradually, the patient simply physically loses the ability to straighten the knee joints and stand up straight.
How to identify the disease before the "duck walk" appears
"Duck gait" in itself is a serious clinical sign for diagnosis. But at this stage, the treatment will already be ineffective, so it is better to start it much earlier. And for this you need to diagnose coxarthrosis at an earlier stage. To do this, there are a number of methods that should be used when the first signs appear. We list the main diagnostic tools:
- Computer tomography is much more effective than conventional x-rays, as it provides information about the quantity and quality of articular tissue.
- X-ray examinations.
- Leg Length Matching - This method is only suitable for advanced stages where severe degenerative joint changes have occurred.
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
Characteristics of gait in coxarthrosis
With this pathology, patients have two options for changing gait. The first one appears atthe defeat of only one joint, the second - with a disease of two. The last option is called the "duck walk". Let's take a closer look at what is happening at this moment with the joints.
So, the wrong approach appears after the bone tissue in the joint cavities began to crack. At this moment, an "adductor contracture" begins to form, that is, the patient's legs take a slightly bent position inwards. And the patient can no longer return to normal on his own. During movement, a person is forced to transfer the weight of the entire body from one leg to another. This is accompanied by rocking movements from side to side. That is why the gait was popularly called "duck".
However, such a serious change in the position of the musculoskeletal system is already characteristic of advanced stages of the disease. What is especially dangerous, such a transfer of the weight of the body leads to a curvature of the spine and damage to the knee joints. Therefore, doctors advise using crutches or canes (required two) to reduce stress.
"Duck walk" during pregnancy
Change in the gait of a woman during pregnancy has nothing to do with coxarthrosis, and completely different reasons cause it. Usually the gait changes in late pregnancy, the eighth or ninth month. Women really start to spread their legs wide and at the same time roll over from one leg to another a little.
But still, let's find out the reasons for such changes. Of course, they depend onphysiological changes occurring in the female body:
- Weight gain, and consequently, an increase in the load on the spinal column. The reason for this is the lower back pain, which pregnant women so often complain about.
- The center of gravity shifts. Pregnant women are a little disoriented in space, which, of course, the body reacts reflexively and slightly changes the gait for greater stability.
- When approaching childbirth, the joints of the pelvis become mobile.
This should not cause pain in the hip joints. If they appear, then we can talk about symphysis, then you need to urgently consult a doctor. Otherwise, nothing bad happens. Change in gait is a natural process.
What should pregnant women do when a "duck walk" appears?
"Duck walk" in women can be a real psychological problem. Future mothers are already emotionally vulnerable, and such a huge, from their point of view, flaw deprives them of any attractiveness. However, do not despair. As polls show, such a gait of pregnant women causes only tenderness and a lot of positive emotions in others.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to answer the question of how to get rid of the "duck walk" during pregnancy. Will have to wait for the birth. As soon as the child is born, the old gait will return to you. A bandage can slightly alleviate the situation, which will reduce the load on the spine. But there are no major changesbring.
"Duck walk" in a child
The cause of pathology (dysbasia) in a child may be orthopedic or neurological changes. These changes can be caused by diseases of the central nervous system and peripheral, as well as diseases and congenital defects of the joints. There are more than 20 variants of gait disturbance, but "duck" is the most common.
This type of pathology is characterized by the above-described shifting from foot to foot. And the reason for its appearance are changes in the hip joints, accompanied by pain. Such a gait not only causes discomfort, but also leads to other disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Causes of "duck walk" in children
In 90% of cases, a "duck gait" appears in a child with dysplasia, pathological changes in the hip joints. This disease leads to pseudarthrosis and chronic dislocations.
Dysplasia is a very common condition affecting 3% of all newborns. And in 80% of all cases, girls suffer from the disease. If the pathology was discovered in infancy, you can try to fix it with special bandages.
Inflammatory processes in the nerves of the lumbosacral plexus or sacroiliac joint can also cause the "duck walk".
Treatment of children
"Duck walk" in a child indicates the presence of a rather serious abnormality that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
The therapeutic complex will depend only on the cause of the disease. As noted above, in some cases, with early diagnosis, it is possible to completely get rid of such a gait. But it all depends on the specific case, the speed of assistance and the qualifications of the specialists who prescribe the treatment.
Gait Correction Exercises
Exercises to correct the "duck walk" in case of illness should be carried out only after consultation with your doctor. Here we do not consider cases with pregnant women and children, since this is a completely different category, and the exercise therapy complex should be developed individually for them.
Let's list the recommended exercises:
- Lie on your back, relax, start slowly alternately bending your legs at the hip and knee joints, trying to press your knee to your chest.
- Lie on your stomach. Raise your right leg, then your left, then both. In this case, the legs should be straight and not bend at the knee joints.
- Lie on your back and start spreading your legs to the sides, returning to the starting position.
These exercises are intended not to load the diseased joint, but to develop it. No need to rush, do all the tasks very slowly. Don't overload your legs. If pain occurs, the complex must be interrupted. Don't do all the exercises at once. First master the first, then in a couple of days connect the second and so on. Gradually, you can increase the number of approaches, but only in the absence of discomfort injoints. It will take a lot of patience and perseverance, but the result is worth the effort.
