Walking abnormalities,difficulties

and muscle - nerve interactions

Cumhur DemirtokaAssignment for Understanding Brain Course

I see in the city park a lady walks very strange. It is very difficult to describe how she walks but after Peggy's lesson I guessed the problem I searched the word “Ataxia and gait “. I find this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpiEprzObIU&index=3&list=PLB01F8C5F8133A9DD

Belove mentioned gait problems are simply result of bad commands of brain so for a normal walk we need good command of brain.

Ataxic gait: Result of degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the cerebellum.

Choreiform Gait : (Hyperkinetic Gait): results of Basal ganglia disorders.

Parkinsonian Gait: Dopamine/parkinson related problem.

For a normal walk good command of nerves is not enough.

We need strong enough muscles.

Myopathic gait at the top of list in the video link is a good example.

Weak Hip girdle muscles (in patient with myopathies, such as muscular dystrophy.) reason of myopathic gait

- Nerve problems leads muscles to weakness. - Muscle weakness forces brain for inconvenient way of commanding. -Problems growing. Hemiplegic and diplegic gait may be an example.

An example to nerve muscle relation :

My mother had brain stroke and her right side paralysed.

Her brain recovered some several months later but her muscles was so weak and she was not able to move.

Therapist made here muscles move by hand and with electrostimulator that increased blood circulation and made muscles stronger.

My mother be able to command them a little bit.

Good command of nerves and strong muscles are not enough

good communication is also important.

Diseases like multiple sclerosis and degenerative disc worsens muscle brain communication.

MS degenarates myelin sheath and nerve insulation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zxExVYbssc

Another reason for muscle nerve communication problem is degenarations of discs. (bulging,herniation, thinnig...)

Degeneration of disc may causes pressure on nerves.

If pressure on main channel, all nerves going down will be effected.

In general any asymmetry in walking may be because of weak muscles, brain disorder, or pain in muscles or joints etc.)

Most of walking disorders causes drop foot.-Another example for weak muscle-

One indication of herniated disc is weak calf. Perimeter of calf getting smaller because brain force it less than the health leg.

Brain inhibits actions raising pressure on nerves

Brain inhibits actions raising pressure on nerves

Sensory ataxia

They usually complain of loss of balance in the dark, typically when closing their eyes in the shower or removing clothing over the head.

Good sensetion another “must” of walking.

If the nerves goes to foot under pressure why back pain?

As cerebellum get also pain inputs, changing its normal commands.

Through the muscles around lumbar area cerebellumtries to relief pressure.

In case this duty is very hard or required continious muscle contraction,muscles becomes stiff because of lactic acid.

Cerebellum should take into account new aches coming from muscles.

This generate new problematic muscles.

If we say movement disorder...Sure, there are a lot

more...

Bone, joint, muscle related problems did not listed.

Thank you!