Don’t ignore a shuffling walk in seniors
You might notice that your older adult shuffles or drags their feet when they walk.
And even if you constantly remind them, they’re still not picking up their feet when walking. In fact, they may not even notice that they’re doing it.
So why do seniors shuffle when they walk? The short answer is that they’re not doing it on purpose.
When someone starts shuffling when they walk, something is causing that to happen. To help your older adult walk more normally (and safely!), the first step is to find the cause.
We share the 10 top reasons why seniors shuffle when they walk, explain why shuffling significantly increases fall risk, and suggest what to do if your older adult has a shuffling walk.
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10 top reasons why seniors shuffle when they walk
- Weak hips and leg muscles
- Arthritis pain in joints
- Loss of flexibility in feet making it hard to flex them normally
- Decreased ability to maintain balance
- Decreased vision making it hard to see
- Fear because of a recent stumble or fall
- Slow reaction time when unbalanced which increases fear of falling
- Medication side effects
- Worn or poorly-fitting shoes or slippers
- Slippery floors
A shuffling walk increases senior fall risk
It might seem like not picking up feet when walking isn’t that important.
But if someone is shuffling, dragging, or generally not lifting their feet off the ground when walking, they’re at a much greater risk of falling.
Shuffling is a common cause of falls because sliding feet can more easily trip on rugs, door thresholds, or even slightly uneven surfaces.
And seniors who shuffle when they walk are more likely to stumble because their shoes can catch on the ground.
Plus, the narrow stance of shuffling feet makes someone more unbalanced than if they had a regular walking stance.
What to do about an older adult’s shuffling walk
An unsteady gait or shuffling walk could be caused by something as simple as slippery floors or as serious as dementia or Parkinson’s disease.
So if your older adult has started shuffling their feet when walking, it’s important to schedule an appointment with their doctor to find out what’s causing it.
To prepare for the doctor’s appointment, check to see if any of these top 10 reasons could be causing them to shuffle their feet.
Unless the reason is obvious and easily corrected, like replacing a too-old pair of shoes that are loose, it’s best to have the doctor do a thorough check-up.
That will help them identify the cause of the shuffling behavior. Once the reason is known, the doctor can make recommendations for how to improve the situation.
Next Step Try gentle exercises that increase flexibility and improve balance
Recommended for you:
- The Best Way to Improve Senior Mobility: the Sit to Stand Exercise
- Reduce Falls with 2 Useful Balance Exercises for Seniors to Do at Home
- Head to Toe Gentle Seated Chair Exercises for Seniors Improve Range of Motion
By DailyCaring Editorial Team
Image: Accuro Home and Community Care
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Brenda Anderson
I agree with that.
Dovebyrd Volare
I am 101 and can still walk without the aid of a cane or walker.Slowly and for short distances around the house,etc.I do not need a wheelchair and when I go out,my son helps me and holds my arm. I can climb up stairs,too….but not too many.Hey,at 101 I am not complaining !
DailyCaring
That’s fantastic!!
Richard Harry Ginsburg
I am a 59 yr old male.I have Parkinson disease. When I walk I shuffle my feet and have a tenacity to fall. What type of exercises can I do to straighten my leg muscles. I will be starting school in a few weeks and do not want to fall while going from class to class
DailyCaring
Since you have Parkinsons, it would be best to speak with your doctor and/or a physical therapist to find out which exercises are appropriate for your health conditions and current physical abilities.
We’re not medical professionals, so we can’t recommend specific exercises and don’t know how exercise will affect your balance and stability. However, using your own best judgement, you may find that gentle exercise can help you improve overall strength and balance. Please use caution when exercising to avoid injury.
You might find these articles with exercise suggestions to be helpful:
— Seated Tai Chi for Seniors: 3 Simple Routines Improve Flexibility and Well-being [Video] https://dailycaring.com/seated-tai-chi-for-seniors-3-simple-routines-improve-flexibility-and-well-being-video/
— Head to Toe Gentle Seated Chair Exercises for Seniors Improve Range of Motion [Video] https://dailycaring.com/head-to-toe-gentle-seated-chair-exercises-for-seniors-improves-range-of-motion-video/
— Easy & Effective 10 Minute Chair Exercises for Seniors https://dailycaring.com/video-easy-effective-10-minute-chair-exercises-for-seniors/
Scott
It’s late 2018 but I just wanted to comment that you can suggest the senior person in your life wear wrist supports (the one that contain a rigid insert) and elbow pads and/or knee pads, when about and/or moving around, it helps if the person falls, but is not a save-all or guarantee. The older a person gets the more awareness they need to be more careful, to slow down and not-as-fast when moving around.
DailyCaring
That’s an interesting idea that some people may want to consider. Thank you for sharing!
carlotta gladding
My 99 year old mom shuffles and I’ve had a hard time finding slippers that aren’t too grabby on her wooden floors. I’m afraid if the shoes are too grabby she will get stopped in her tracks. Any suggestions?
DailyCaring
That’s a great question, I completely understand what you mean about not being too sticky. That could increase the risk of tripping and falling. You might want to check out some of these adaptive shoes and slippers to see if one of them could be right for her. It might take a little bit of experimentation — http://dailycaring.com/solve-foot-pain-with-adaptive-shoes-for-seniors/
Art Rod
Thank you Daily Caring for providing feed back. Enjoy reading your articles!
DailyCaring
Thank you Art! So glad our articles are helpful 🙂