Balzac Gait
Balzac Gait
Balzac Gait
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Neurologa. 2015;30(4):240246
NEUROLOGA
www.elsevier.es/neurologia
REVIEW ARTICLE
a
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Terapia Ocupacional, Rehabilitacin y Medicina Fsica, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud,
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
b
Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluacin y Tratamiento Psicolgico I, Facultad de Psicologa, Universidad Complutense,
Madrid, Spain
KEYWORDS Abstract
Gait analysis; Introduction: People have been interested in movement analysis in general, and gait analysis
Balzac; in particular, since ancient times. Aristotle, Hippocrates, Galen, Leonardo da Vinci and Honor
History; de Balzac all used observation to analyse the gait of human beings. The purpose of this study
Medical humanities; is to compare Honor de Balzacs writings with a scientific analysis of human gait.
Literature; Sources: Honor de Balzacs Theory of walking and other works by that author referring to
Gait; gait.
Movement; Development: Honor de Balzac had an interest in gait analysis, as demonstrated by his
Observation descriptions of characters which often include references to their way of walking. He also
wrote a treatise entitled Theory of walking (Thorie de la demarche) in which he employed
his keen observation skills to define gait using a literary style. He stated that the walking pro-
cess is divided into phases and listed the factors that influence gait, such as personality, mood,
height, weight, profession and social class, and also provided a description of the correct way
of walking.
Conclusions: Balzac considered gait analysis to be very important and this is reflected in both
his character descriptions and Theory of walking, his analytical observation of gait. In our own
technology-dominated times, this serves as a reminder of the importance of observation.
2011 Sociedad Espa nola de Neurologa. Published by Elsevier Espaa, S.L.U. All rights
reserved.
Please cite this article as: Collado-Vzquez S, Carrillo J. Balzac y el anlisis de la marcha humana. Neurologa. 2015;30:240246.
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Collado-Vzquez).
Introduction
translated as Mechanics of the Human Walking Apparatus, distrustful of the end of the busk of her corset, or irritated
they describe the phases of the gait cycle, movements of the for whatever reason, had transformed herself into Venus Cal-
centre of gravity, and alterations in gait. While the measure- lipyge and strode along like a guinea fowl with her neck
ments they took were very simple, they are considered an outstretched, pulling in her front, and arching that part of
important contribution.2,11,17,18 her opposite to the busk.11 Here, Balzac shows how a gar-
Balzac stated that the process of viewing, analysing, ment was able to alter the posture of a walking woman,
generalising, and classifying would deliver the code of walk- thereby changing her gait pattern. Even if the corsets
ing, with its postulates that would provide lazier scholars described by Balzac have fallen into disuse, clothing may
with an understanding of the secrets of gait (Table 1).11 still affect walking to a greater or lesser extent. For exam-
ple, we find very narrow skirts that oblige women to take
small steps, and even heavy coats that can make the wearer
Factors that modulate gait
walk somewhat bent. Even more studies have examined
changes in gait owing to footwear, for example, high-heeled
Balzac asked himself which factors might change gait, shoes or very heavy shoes such as army boots.2,7,8
whether humans in ancient times walked well, if any pop-
ulation could be said to walk better than the others, and
if sunlight or climate could affect walking.11 Other authors, Personality
in subsequent studies of gait, also described factors affect-
ing the way people walk. Some of these descriptions bear In both his character descriptions and in Theory of Walking,
a strong resemblance to Balzacs own.6,7,23 Throughout his Balzac refers to an individuals personality and how it may be
treatise, Balzac lists many factors affecting gait, including reflected by his walk. A persons gait pattern and speed and
height and weight, type of work, social class, and a variety the way he holds his head or moves his upper limbs can shed
of psychological factors. light on whether he is aloof, timid, or self-confident. Slow,
measured steps and a relaxed posture may indicate seren-
ity, laziness, apathy, or disinterest; short bursts of hasty
Weight
and unsure steps point to a nervous, restless, and irritable
personality. In turn, the self-assured persons head is held
Balzac mentions the effect that body type, whether high, and he or she displays an energetic, firm, and decisive
overweight or underweight, has on a persons walk. His pro- step.24
nouncements on obesity were as follows: While it is true
that dignity, in the sense of majesty, requires a certain full-
ness of flesh, it is nonetheless impossible to claim this to be Height
true of a man walking, since his belly throws the rest of his
body off balance. Walking ability disappears with obesity. An Theory of Walking lists stature as another factor affecting
obese man finds himself forced to surrender to the ungainly gait: . . .a tall young lady with her feet close together and
movements imposed on him by his rotund belly. . . Obediently mouth pressed tightly shut, completely rigid and slightly
following his belly, this poor rich man looked twisted. He bent, walked forward with little jolts, like poorly-made
pushed his limbs forward painfully, one after another, with clockwork; her springs seemed to be rusted and her joints
a dragging, sickly movement like a dying man resisting to the frozen.11 In effect, certain gait parameters may be altered
end, even as he is pushed to the brink of the grave.11 With by height, or more specifically, by the length of the lower
a liberal dose of irony, Balzac describes gait being altered in limbs that determine stride length or gait cycle length.7
the overweight population, and this claim was later corrobo-
rated by other authors who have analysed gait and described
Professions
that in obesity and pregnancy, forward displacement of the
individuals centre of gravity causes lumbar hyperlordosis.
In many cases, excess weight in these patients causes them On several occasions, Balzac mentions that men who walk
to strike the ground with the entire sole of the foot instead quickly have an occupation and are in a hurry to complete
of with the heel, avoid lateral displacements, and limit hor- their tasks or to reach their workplace on time. Noblemen,
izontal hip rotation. Likewise, excess weight can promote in contrast, walk slowly and unhurriedly; no one is waiting
the development of deformities in the lower limbs that may for them, since they are gentlemen of leisure.
alter the normal walking pattern.5,7,8,23 Men who are condemned to repeat the same move-
In his description of emaciation, Balzac writes, Along ments in their daily work all demonstrate, in their step,
came a diplomat built like a skeleton, slumping along in a a marked source of locomotion, whether in the shoulders,
single piece like a marionette whose strings are slack. He thorax, or hips. With this sentence, he shows how work
seemed as tight as a mummy in its bandages. Thin people affects posture and movement through the position adopted
walk slowly, dragging their feet in an attempt to save energy, while working, or the repetitive motions required in the
and calculating a minimal amount of effort.2,7,8,11,23 workplace.9 Balzac also highlights 2 cases in which profes-
sion affects gait, namely sailors and soldiers. In the first
case, the men spend long periods of time on an unstable
Dress surface and have to make a series of adjustments. Soldiers,
in turn, have to march in a specific way, following a specific
Balzac linked dress to the way of walking, especially when cadence, and this gait pattern will invariably affect their
he mentions use of corsets by women: A beautiful woman, normal gait pattern.
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Returning to sailors, Balzac provides the following present mistook him for a waiter, and waiters were con-
detailed description: Sailors remain with legs apart, and vinced that he was a gentleman. Father Brown, who had
always ready to bend or contract. Obliged to sway about overheard these variations in the same mans footsteps, was
on the deck with the swell of the waves, they are ren- able to identify the thief.25
dered incapable of walking straight on dry land. With all this
sidestepping, they would do well to become diplomats.
Additional factors
Balzac concludes this section with a critical touch of irony.11
Lelivre also described the walk of sailors and fishermen,
indicating that, as a result of the movement of their ships, Balzac also listed other potential factors including climate
these men separate their feet to create a wider base of sup- and race. While he mentioned disordered gait caused by dis-
port and better balance on an unstable surface. In addition, eases that were probably neurological in origin, he did not
the knees and hips remain flexed. When on dry land, their describe those diseases.11
walk displays considerable lateral movement. This descrip-
tion resembles Balzacs; both authors emphasise separating
the feet as a way of widening the base of support and Conclusions
improving balance. Likewise, they mention that these fea-
tures are also seen on land, since these professionals have
Honor de Balzac was a pioneer in the field of gait analysis,
difficulty walking in a straight line and they display lateral
both for his frequent literary descriptions of peoples ways
movements.23
of walking and for having written what was very probably
According to Balzac, soldiers have an unmistakeable way
the first treatise to offer a specific and in-depth study of
of walking. Almost all of them remain motionless above the
gait: Theory of Walking.
kidneys, like a bust on a pedestal, while their legs beat away
This book presents his critical observations of different
below the abdomen as if controlled by a sergeant entrusted
gaits, provides a definition of gait, and describes a concept
with keeping the lower limbs in perfect order. The upper
of proper gait. Balzac also stated that gait was divided into
body seems not to have the faintest idea of the movement
different phases and he listed the factors affecting it. While
occurring below. . . The soldier is continually obliged to bear
the entire essay is embellished with the authors personal
the total sum of his strength in his chest, which he always
style, sarcasm, and critical tone, it does contain many accu-
thrusts out as he stands straight.11 Soldiers are trained to
rate statements about walking, and these make Balzacs
walk in a certain way, with an upright bearing and a specific
writings a necessary reference for anyone with an interest
cadence and speed; this training will eventually be notice-
in human gait analysis. Furthermore, in these technology-
able in their normal walking pattern.7
dominated times, they make us recall the importance of
He also expressed that judges obliged to spend their
observation.
lives in the seat of justice, are easily recognisable by their
restrained air and a slight movement of the shoulders,
and invited the reader to observe the results of spending
long hours seated for professional reasons. His examples Conflicts of interest
included doormen, sacristans, tailors, office workers, and
drivers whose knees remain flexed for hours; this may limit The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
the extension required for walking, and thus exert a def-
inite effect on their movements.7,8,11 Workers who remain
on their feet throughout their daily activities, such as wait
staff and shop assistants, may also present alterations in References
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