Which gait pattern is characteristic of hip abductor weakness?

• A. Pelvic drop on the contralateral side during stance; hip abductor weakness.
• B. Pelvic level with knee flexion.
• C. Waddling gait due to knee instability.
• D. Toe walking due to plantar flexor weakness.

Answer: (A)

Hip abductors stabilize the pelvis in the frontal plane when one leg bears weight, keeping the pelvis level. If these muscles are weak, the pelvis cannot stay level during the stance on the affected side and tends to drop on the opposite (contralateral) side. This contralateral pelvic drop during stance is the classic sign of hip abductor weakness, often seen as a Trendelenburg pattern, sometimes with a compensatory trunk lean toward the stance leg to reduce the moment arm. The other options don’t reflect this loss of frontal-plane pelvic stability: a level pelvis with knee flexion isn’t indicative of abductor weakness, a waddling gait points more to knee instability or proximal weakness, and toe walking suggests plantar flexor weakness.