Neurological gait disorders in childhood

There are an enormous number of neurological illnesses that can manifest with gait disturbance in childhood. Whilst experience and clinical acumen are helpful in diagnosing these disorders, some basic principles in assessment and diagnosis are helpful in determining the phenomenology, time course, and neuro-anatomical localisation. In this review we focus on some of the more common movement disorders resulting in inserted postures (including spasticity and dystonia), inserted movements (including chorea and myoclonus), and impairment of motor control (including ataxia and neuro-muscular disorders). A number of case studies are included to illustrate the factual descriptions.