How to Fix An Abducted Gait

What is an Abducted Leg Walking Pattern?

An abducted leg walking pattern occurs when a person’s leg is positioned away from their body’s midline—essentially, the leg is pushed out to the side while walking.

A common sign of this pattern is the inability to keep the affected leg close to the body’s center, which can result in the leg being further out to the side than usual.

If you’re ready to work on improving your walking pattern, there are exercises you can do right at home using simple tools.

For instance, PVC pipes from a hardware store like Home Depot can be used to create a support frame. Here’s how you can get started.

Materials:

• PVC pipes (1 and 1/2 inch thickness)

• The pipes should be chest height and wider than shoulder-width apart

Progression Exercises:

Progression 1: Weight Shifting and Heel Lifting

1. Stand while holding onto anything stable or a PVC pipes for support.
2. Shift your weight onto the affected leg.
3. Lift the heel of the opposite foot.
4. If needed, strap your hand to the pipe for extra stability

Modification for Confidence Building:

1. Place your foot one fist away from a sturdy chair or object.
2. Lean into the chair while keeping your belly button directly over the affected leg.
3. Return to original position.

Progression 2: Sliding and Stepping with Support

1. Hold onto the PVC frame for stability.
2. Shift your weight onto the affected leg.
3. Lift your heel.
4. Slide your foot outward using a furniture slider.

Progression 3: Step and Hold with Support

1. Hold onto the PVC pipes for balance.
2. Shift your weight over your foot (avoid locking your knee).
3. Lift your heel.
4. Step onto the front of the PVC pipe.

5. Step back down.

Progression 4: Incorporating Anterior Weight Shift

1. Shift your weight forward.
2. Step onto the PVC pipe with your affected foot.
3. Step over the pipe.
4. Step back to the starting position.

Exercises for Those Walking Without an Assistive Device

A. Weight Shift and Toe Control

1. Sit in a chair.
2. Shift your weight to the affected leg.
3. Keep your big toe down (don’t let it lift).
4. Step your foot across your other foot in a straight line.
5. Hold the position for as long as you can.

B. Hover Exercise: step in line

1. Stand with your foot slightly away from a chair.
2. Step across your other foot in a straight line.
3. Hover near the chair without touching it for support.
4. Step back.

C: Hover Exercise – Step Across

1. Position your foot slightly away from the chair.
2. Shift your weight to the affected leg.
3. Step across your midline with the opposite foot.
4. Hover toward the chair without touching it.
5. Step back to the starting position.

D. Stepping Strategy for Fall Prevention

How the body responds to imbalance:
1️⃣ First, we use our legs to regain balance.
2️⃣ If the imbalance is too great, we use a stepping strategy to prevent a fall.

Exercise:

1. Stand with your foot positioned slightly away from a sturdy chair.
2. Shift your weight and step across behind the other leg (similar to a curtsy squat).
3. Step back to your original position.

Advanced Drills Using a Yoga Block

E1: Tapping the Block

1. Shift your weight onto the affected leg.
2. Tap the yoga block with your foot.
3. Step back down.
4. Progression: Flip the yoga block to a taller position and repeat.

Progression 1: Stepping Over the Block

1. Stand with the affected leg next to the yoga block.
2. Step onto the block.
3. Step over the block.
4. Step back to the starting position.

Progression 2: Flip the Block

1. Stand with the affected leg next to the yoga block.
2. Step onto the block.
3. Step over the block.
4. Step back to the starting position.

Advanced Balance & Walking Progressions:

F. Step Over in Tandem

1. Stand with your involved leg next to a yoga block.
2. Step up onto the block with your involved leg.
3. Step over the block with your other leg.
4. Step back onto the block with the opposite foot.
5. Return to the starting position by stepping down.

G. Tandem Walking Drill

1. Stand heel-to-toe, with one foot placed directly in front of the other.
2. Focus on shifting your weight laterally (side to side) and anteriorly (forward).
3. Try walking forward and backward in this heel-to-toe position.