Gait disturbances are characterized by the loss of or difficulty with the ability to coordinate smooth motor movements related to gait, or locomotion. Gait disturbance can vary in severity from an almost unobservable difficulty in walking to an almost complete inability to produce independent locomotion. There are many problems and diseases that can result in gait disturbances, including an open or closed head injury, injury to the spinal cord or legs, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases. Regardless of the etiology of the disturbance, the difficulties experienced by the child can be seen in one or more of five functional categories, including deformity, muscle weakness, impaired control, pain, and spasticity.