New Delhi: Beloved storyteller Ruskin Bond, who turned 90 this year, has captured hearts with his simple tales of hills and small-town life. Now, fans worry as the Indian author lands in hospital in Dehradun. Doctors spot trouble in his walk—could it be a gait disorder?
This health scare reminds us how age tests even the strongest spirits. What exactly is this walking issue hitting seniors? Stay tuned for details on his fight and hopes for recovery.
Ruskin Bond’s sudden hospital stay
Ruskin Bond, the 90-year-old icon born in Kasauli on May 19, 1934, was rushed to Max Hospital in Dehradun due to leg weakness and discomfort. His family said, “One of Ruskin Bond’s legs has weakened, causing difficulty in walking”. They added he is under medical care and “expected to be discharged from the hospital in the next few days”. No full medical report is out yet, but sources link it to walking problems common in old age.
Understanding gait disorder
A gait disorder means an abnormal or shaky way of walking, like slow steps, shuffling feet, poor balance, or needing support to move. The attached India TV article explains: “This could include the loss of speed of walking or loss of balance, shuffling gait, inability to lift the legs, or requiring support while walking”. In elders, changes are often small, such as “hesitation, taking shorter steps, or loss of confidence in walking”. It is not a disease on its own but a sign of other issues.
Why does it hit seniors hard
Age weakens body parts that help us walk smoothly. Key factors include “muscle weakness and decreased mobility/pliability, nerve alterations with age, joint degeneration, especially of the knee joints, hip joints, or spinal joints, balance problems related to the inner ear, vision changes that influence spatial perception”. Doctors call this a “multifactorial gait disorder,” with no single cause. It may be tied to nerve issues like Parkinson’s or stroke, but first check simple fixes like drugs, low vitamins, dryness, or infections.
Path to better walking
Fixes match the root problem, focusing on safety over a full cure. Options cover physiotherapy for muscle strength improvement and balance development, assistive devices such as walkers or canes, and evaluating medications that can produce dizziness or weakness. With the right help, seniors rebuild trust in steps. Fans hope Bond, loved for works like The Room on the Roof and The Blue Umbrella, pens more hill stories soon.