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Walking After Brain Injury: How to Recover

Posted by:

Johannes Sauer

Reviewed by:

Dr. Jennie Stanford

Updated at: February 18, 2025

Table of Contents

  1. How a Brain Injury Affects Walking

  2. Common Walking Patterns After Brain Injury

  3. Retraining the Brain to Walk

  4. Top Rehab Exercises to Improve Walking After Brain Injury

    1. Balance Exercises

    2. Strength Exercises

    3. Gait Training

    4. Flexibility and Range of Motion Exercises

  5. Improved Walking Through Better Footwear

After a brain injury, it is common for a patient’s ability to walk to be adversely affected. In this guide, we will introduce you to top rehab exercises that can help you to retrain your walking following a brain injury.

How a Brain Injury Affects Walking

If you have experienced a stroke, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) such as a skull fracture, or another type of brain injury, you could experience problems with walking, such as:

  • Patients may have difficulties with balance.
  • The patient’s gait may be affected (if a stroke was involved, foot drop is a common outcome).
  • Fatigue can set in more rapidly, causing reduced endurance.
  • Some patients may experience pain when walking.
  • There may be issues with reciprocal movement (i.e. one leg will not move right, or the legs could cross while walking). 
  • Overall mobility can be reduced. 
  • Cognitive issues may further hinder safe and effective walking.

Common Walking Patterns After Brain Injury

Here are some common ways that walking problems can manifest following a brain injury:

  • Reduced walking speed
  • Alterations in cadence and step length
  • Pausing longer on one leg than the other while walking
  • Issues involving knee flexion, pelvic tilt, and other aspects of gait
  • Foot drop or leg heaviness (common with stroke, which can cause brain injury)

Retraining the Brain to Walk

Thankfully, the brain has a feature called “neuroplasticity,” which allows it to remap activities from the injured part of the brain to areas that are uninjured and functional.

You can retrain your brain to walk by:

  • Doing physical therapy (PT): Your physical therapist will give you rehabilitative exercises to perform.
  • Walking: Practicing walking with a natural gait is one of the most effective ways to recover.

Top Rehab Exercises to Improve Walking After Brain Injury

Here are some simple exercises you can try to retrain walking following a brain injury.

Balance Exercises

There are exercises you can do to restore your balance. Here are a couple of examples:

  • Single leg stance: This just refers to standing balanced on one leg with the other foot up off the ground.
  • Weight shifting: Shift your weight to one foot, lifting the other off the ground. Then, put that foot back down, and shift to the other side, doing the same thing. Repeat as needed.

Jan 27, 2025

Strength Exercises

Do exercises that improve your leg and core strength. Here are some examples:

  • Leg presses: This is an exercise that requires a leg press machine. You can use it to lift weights with your legs.
  • Squats: This is an exercise for developing leg strength that you can do at home with no equipment. You just squat and stand repeatedly.

Gait Training

These exercises can help you retrain your gait:

  • Side stepping: Put a resistance band around your lower legs just above your ankles. Stand with your feet apart, then walk sideways.
  • Marching in place: Take marching steps in place, lifting your knees high.
  • Walking: Go on walks, doing your best to maintain a natural gait.

Flexibility and Range of Motion Exercises

You can improve your flexibility and range of motion through stretching, yoga, and similar exercises that help mobilize the knees, ankles, and other joints.

Improved Walking Through Better Footwear

As you exercise and relearn to walk after a brain injury, you will need to take measures to improve your safety and comfort. One way you can do that is to wear Cadense Original Adaptive Shoes. 

These shoes can help you “glide” across uneven surfaces with patented variable friction technology. They also reduce pain and fatigue through a comfortable, lightweight design.

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FAQ

How long does it take to walk again after a brain injury?

Many patients can walk again within 6 months of a brain injury. Some may be able to do it more rapidly, while others may take longer.

How often should I practice walking exercises?

Try walking several times a week. Each time you do, around 20-40 minutes is usually suitable.

Can I exercise on my own, or do I need supervision?

That depends on the severity of your symptoms. Your physical therapist can help you figure out what is safe for you.

What role does diet and nutrition play in walking recovery?

A nutritious diet can help repair muscles, restore energy, and curb runaway inflammation, all of which may help you recover your walking.

Posted by: Johannes Sauer

Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. Johannes is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cadense and passionate about helping people with walking difficulties. He was immediately drawn to the mission of the company because his cousin lost his lower leg in a tragic motorcycle accident a few years ago and is experiencing walking difficulties ever since. Johannes brings over a decade of experience in working for consumer product companies to Cadense. He holds an MBA from the University of Graz in Austria. Johannes lives with his family in Santa Barbara, CA.

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Reviewed by: Dr. Jennie Stanford

Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is an obesity medicine physician and metabolic health expert, as well as a medical writer and educator. Dr. Jennie Stanford, MD, FAAFP, DipABOM, is an obesity medicine physician and metabolic health expert, as well as a medical writer and educator. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Stanford is board-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine. She is passionately involved in medical education, dedicating her time to mentoring and advancing the field.

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