Frequent complaints experienced by patients with radicular syndrome L5 include gait impairment. In a proportion of these patients, the main cause is weakening of the hip joint abductors (m. gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae). This sing is often inapparent not only to the patient but, also, to the physician and can be readily overlooked. In our group of 25 patients with radicular syndrome L5, weakening of the above muscles was demonstrated in 13 out of which in 11 the weakening led to significant impairment of the gait stereotype. The need for timely diagnosis of hip abductor weakening is highlighted and the authors’ own experience with specific rehabilitation of this disorder in patients with radicular syndrome L5 is presented.

        Key words: radicular syndrome L5, hip abductors, impaired gait stereotype, rehabilitation of hip abductor weakening