A way of walking in which the person walks unsteadily due to a disorder of the nervous system.
An unsteady, staggering gait pattern. If related to cerebellar pathology, the gait is unsteady, irregular, and generally characterized by use of a wide base of support. The deviation is equally severe if the individual walks with eyes open or closed. If the cerebellar lesion is localized to one hemisphere, the individual will sway toward the affected side. Ataxic gait patterns related to spinal ataxia are characterized by a wide base of support, with the feet thrown out. There is a characteristic double tapping sound, as the individual steps on heels first, then on toes. This gait pattern occurs in such conditions as tabes dorsalis and multiple sclerosis and is believed to result from the disruption of the sensory pathways in the central nervous system.