Kerala Journal of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Official Journal of the Kerala Chapter of Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 25 | Issue 2 | June 2026
Guest Speciality Article
Functional Gait Disorders
Rithwik S
Dr Moopens Medical College, Wayanad
Dr Rithwik S MBBS, MD,
Psychiatry, Assistant Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, Dr Moopens MC, Wayanad
Email: rithwiksanthosh@yahoo.com
Rithwik S. Functional Gait Disorders. KJPMR. 2026;25(2):25-28.
Functional gait disorders (FGD), previously termed psychogenic gait disorders are a subset of functional neurological disorders (FND) characterized by abnormal gait patterns that are incongruent with recognized neurological disease. Functional neurological disorder (FND) can include both motor and non-motor presentations. Abnormal gait is common in patients with motor-FND, being the sole presentation in 5.7% and part of a mixed movement disorder in 36.6% according to one study.1
The terminology used to describe Functional Neurologic disorders (FND) has undergone significant changes over time and is currently designated under ‘Functional neurological symptom disorder (Conversion disorder)’ in DSM-5TR, and ‘Dissociative neurological symptom disorder’ in ICD-11.2