Definition

Noun: A form of abasia (inability to walk) specifically caused by trembling or shaking of the legs. The condition is characterized by an unsteady, hesitant gait due to involuntary leg tremors that disrupt coordinated movement.

Usage

This is a highly specific, technical medical term. It is used almost exclusively in clinical, neurological, or psychiatric contexts to describe a symptom.

Examples

• The patient's diagnosis was abasia trepidans, as their gait disturbance was directly linked to severe leg tremors.
• Neurological examination revealed signs consistent with abasia trepidans.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often found in older medical literature describing hysterical or psychogenic gait disorders. In modern clinical practice, the underlying cause (e.g., essential tremor, Parkinson's disease, psychogenic movement disorder) is typically specified instead.

Variants and Related Words

• Abasia (n): The general term for the inability to walk due to impaired coordination, without specifying the cause.
• Astasia-abasia (n): A related condition involving both inability to stand (astasia) and walk (abasia), often psychogenic in origin.
• Tremor (n): An involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction leading to shaking movements, which is the core feature causing .

Synonyms

• Gait apraxia (in some specific contexts, though not a direct synonym)
• Hysterical gait (in historical/psychogenic contexts)

Notes on Meaning

This term describes a symptom or clinical sign, not a disease itself. The primary meaning is the walking inability (abasia) that is a direct result of (due to) the leg tremors (trepidans).

Noun

1. abasia due to trembling of the legs