How to Prevent a Limp from Developing
Ever wonder how a person can be limping, even at a young age? While it's certainly not ideal, a limp is less alarming than you think. A limp is simply a side effect from either an injury caused in the hips, knees, or legs, or it's the physical sign of a neurological condition that's forming.
Although a limp can feel debilitating, given proper recovery time plus dedication on your part to follow your doctor or physiotherapist's instructions, a limp can be resolved from an injury just fine.
Now, there are some situations when a limp can develop even if you do your best, and we'll go over these examples shortly. For now, let's talk about how to prevent a limp from developing and impacting your lifestyle. To start, let's focus a little on antalgic gait.
What is antalgic gait?
Antalgic gait is the medical term for a limp that's arisen due to pain, which is the most common sign of a limp. This type of gait usually forms in the lower parts of the body, aka the hips, knees, and feet.
The cause of antalgic gait in adults is almost always a minor injury. Anyone who's seen favouring one side of their body over the other when walking with an injury can be considered as someone who has antalgic gait.
A trait that often comes alongside antalgic gait is what's known as an antalgic lean. This is when you shift your body and posture so that you're leaning on one side to reduce pressure applied to the sore area of your injury.
Luckily, antalgic gait can be remedied fast once an official diagnosis has been given.
What causes a limp?
Injuries on the lower body: hips, feet, toes, ankles, hips, or spine. Fractures, sprains, breaks, or stubbed toes can all create antalgic gait and lean.
Difficulties after a leg injury. Usually if you try to rush your recovery time, or if further complications arise.
Nervous system disorders. These are more complex conditions.
Arthritis. This can happen to anyone, so take great care of yourself.
Overuse injuries. Another fairly common cause, and self-explanatory especially if your lifestyle or activities rely on muscles or body parts that do repetitive motions.
Is a limp permanent?
Some conditions such as congenital (i.e. genetic) are unfortunately unavoidable and unpreventable.
However, if in your specific case the limp has been an aftermath of a recent injury, then no, a limp is not permanent. In fact, it's preventable!
How to prevent a limp
The best first starting point is to speak with your physiotherapist about your limp and potential causes, or at least before you begin your healing journey. If the limp is a result of an injury, an initial assessment can do wonders in telling us about your current situation.
Once all the details have been ironed out, we'll get to the treatment customization and go over everything with you before your treatment begins.
If your limp was the end result of a work accident-related or car accident-related injury, there are certain care tips that can apply. Additionally, your sessions with us will be fully funded by ICBC and WorkSafeBC so long as you have an active claim from either.
In the meantime, when you're not attending sessions, you will have to adhere to the following instructions:
Use ice whenever the pain gets too bad or sore. For more tips check out our previous blog post (even if it's about a different injury altogether!) Ice or Heat?
Wear protective gear. This not only applies to contact sports you participate in, but also extreme ones such as rock climbing or dirt biking.
Since your legs and feet are the most vulnerable areas where a limp is likely to form, wear knee pads, sturdy footwear, and ankle braces prior to any activity where leg injury is likely to occur.
Be aware of your posture, or at least start applying corrective exercises right away. This is especially important should you have a job or a lifestyle that requires lots of sitting.
Embrace the crutches, as awkward and unwieldy as they may be at first. They are your best means of walking normally again, even if it means drastic change to your lifestyle (which, again, can be temporary).
Rest when you can! Sometimes that's the best thing you can do for your body. Trying to rush yourself back into your regular routine without resting will only prolong your recovery time.
Need some help to recover?
Our staff at Triumph Physio and Wellness are not only physiotherapists—we're experts in the ways our bodies can heal and become stronger despite frequent injury or weakness. By using more than just physiotherapy, such as acupuncture and registered massage therapy, we can get you back on your feet—both of them.
Book an initial assessment with us today if you think we're a great fit for your limp recovery needs!
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