Analysis of the spastic gait caused by cervical compression myelopathy.

We evaluated the spastic gait of patients with cervical myelopathy with a three-dimensional gait analysis system. Fifteen patients with cervical myelopathy (S group) were investigated. The results obtained were compared with those of normal volunteers (N group). The S group exhibited significant reduction of gait velocity and step length (p < 0.01). In the knee flexion-extension curve, two peaks were observed in the N group. In the S1 group (symptomatic period <1 year), the anterior peak was not smooth, whereas in the S2 group (symptomatic period >1 year), no peak was observed. The pelvis tilted to the side of the standing leg in the N group. However, in the S1 group, this tilting was much less pronounced, and in some patients tilting toward the nonsupporting leg was observed. In the S2 group, the pelvis again tilting toward the supporting side was observed.