What functional consequence is associated with Trendelenburg gait?

What functional consequence is associated with Trendelenburg gait?

• A. Reduced frontal plane stability
• B. Increased cadence
• C. Decreased hip joint loading
• D. Shorter step length

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how hip abductor weakness affects stability in the frontal plane during walking. When the stance leg bears weight, the hip abductors (especially gluteus medius) must keep the pelvis level side-to-side. If these muscles are weak, the pelvis tends to drop on the swing side, and a compensatory trunk lean toward the stance leg often develops to try to maintain balance. This results in reduced stability in the frontal plane at the pelvis during stance, which is the hallmark of Trendelenburg gait. The other options don’t capture this fundamental consequence: cadence is not inherently increased by this gait pattern, hip joint loading isn’t the defining effect, and step length changes aren’t the key diagnostic feature.

The main idea is how hip abductor weakness affects stability in the frontal plane during walking. When the stance leg bears weight, the hip abductors (especially gluteus medius) must keep the pelvis level side-to-side. If these muscles are weak, the pelvis tends to drop on the swing side, and a compensatory trunk lean toward the stance leg often develops to try to maintain balance. This results in reduced stability in the frontal plane at the pelvis during stance, which is the hallmark of Trendelenburg gait. The other options don’t capture this fundamental consequence: cadence is not inherently increased by this gait pattern, hip joint loading isn’t the defining effect, and step length changes aren’t the key diagnostic feature.