shuffling not walking

[Chenecinquantecinq]

Met my 79 year old mother today (after a few months) she is now shuffling not lifting her feet fully when walking. To me this looks like an obvious deterioration. She can still manage extensive distances but the shuffling is odd?

Shuffling gait is a classic sign of Parkinson's, but it can also be caused by multiple other things - back pain, muscle weakness etc. Will she see a GP, if you suggest it?

A few questions that may help narrow down causes - does she have difficulty getting up and down from sitting or trouble climbing stairs, how's her sense of smell, has her handwriting changed?

Shuffling can be a sign of normal pressure hydrocephalus (which can also give dementia-like symptoms). It can be treated if caught earlier- worth a trip to GP and a discussion.

shuffling can be part of dementia so maybe just check that

That's what I was going to say. Definitely something to be flagged up - would she go to the GP if you sold it as a check up, health MOT sort of thing?

My mum spent her time saying to me when I was a kid” pick your feet up” all of a sudden I was saying it to her. I called it the old people shuffle. Mum didn’t have Parkinson’s but did develop dementia. The problem because they aren’t picking their feet up so the slightest raise of a pavement and over she’d go. If I was with her I’d ask why she was shuffling, she’d say she didn’t know and would walk properly but within a few minutes, back to the old people shuffle. I was telling my father in law this story and he said “ oh I do that now” when asked why he didn’t know but can pick his feet up properly but needs reminding.

Can be caused by lack of flexibility in the knee joints - so not bending the knee enough when walking which leads to a shuffling gait. Also lack of flexibility in the ankle area, or even in the hips. Doesn't have to be due to dementia.

My Dad does this now. I assume it's just old age.

Shuffling for my dad was an early sign of his Alzheimer’s but he was only 63.

my mum does this. it’s so her feet are always nearer the ground because she can’t see as well and her balance has gone, both just old age, so doesnt want to pick her feet up as it takes longer to react and rebalance is somethimg unexpected happens.