A young boy with early signs of muscular dystrophy is likely to walk with which of the following gait patterns?

In the context of early signs of muscular dystrophy, it is expected that the young boy would exhibit a gait pattern characterized by an increased lordosis. Muscular dystrophy leads to progressive muscle weakness and can result in imbalances around the pelvis and spine, leading to compensatory postural adaptations.

Increased lordosis is a common compensatory mechanism where there is an exaggerated curvature in the lumbar region of the spine. This adaptation can be a result of weakness in the abdominal and hip extensor muscles, which can cause the pelvis to tilt forward. As the boy attempts to maintain balance and stability during ambulation, the compensatory anterior pelvic tilt and subsequent increased lumbar lordosis become more pronounced.

Although high steppage gait is associated with foot drop due to weakness in the dorsiflexor muscles and could be seen in other neuromuscular conditions, it isn't typically the primary gait pattern associated with early muscular dystrophy. An anterior lean is often seen in individuals with hip extensor weakness but is not as characteristic in early muscular dystrophy. A flexor synergy pattern is more indicative of neurological conditions such as stroke or cerebral palsy rather than muscular dystrophy.

Thus, the increased lordosis observed in this scenario accurately reflects the compensatory strategies