Trendelenburg gait

Trendelenburg gait
Other namesGluteus medius lurch
SpecialtyNeurology

Trendelenburg gait, first described by Friedrich Trendelenburg in 1895, is an abnormal human gait caused by an inability to maintain the pelvis level while standing on one leg. It is caused by weakness or ineffective action of the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles.

Gandbhir and Rayi point out that the biomechanical action involved comprises a class 3 lever, where the lower limb's weight is the load, the hip joint is the fulcrum, and the lateral glutei, which attach to the antero-lateral surface of the greater trochanter of the femur, provide the effort. The causes can thus be categorized systematically as failures of this lever system at various points.