Gower's sign describes how an individual rises to standing from a seated position.

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Gower's sign describes how an individual rises to standing from a seated position.

Gowers sign is a sign of proximal muscle weakness, especially in the hips and thighs, that becomes apparent when rising from the floor. The hallmark is using the hands and arms to push up on the thighs and “crawl” up the legs to stand, because the hip and thigh muscles are too weak to lift the body without this aid. The description that matches this pattern is the one where, upon getting up from the floor, the person places hands on the legs and climbs up the thighs to assume a standing position. This compensatory rise is not how someone would typically stand from a chair or seated position, and it isn’t described by pushing from the hip with arms raised, an inability to flex the knees, or a limp gait after standing. The sign highlights proximal weakness and is a classic clue to neuromuscular conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Gowers sign is a sign of proximal muscle weakness, especially in the hips and thighs, that becomes apparent when rising from the floor. The hallmark is using the hands and arms to push up on the thighs and “crawl” up the legs to stand, because the hip and thigh muscles are too weak to lift the body without this aid. The description that matches this pattern is the one where, upon getting up from the floor, the person places hands on the legs and climbs up the thighs to assume a standing position. This compensatory rise is not how someone would typically stand from a chair or seated position, and it isn’t described by pushing from the hip with arms raised, an inability to flex the knees, or a limp gait after standing. The sign highlights proximal weakness and is a classic clue to neuromuscular conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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