Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Gowers' sign
Introduction
Gowers’ sign is a medical sign that indicates weakness of the proximal muscles, namely those of the lower limb. The sign describes a patient that has to use his or her hands and arms to “walk” up his or her own body from a squatting position due to lack of hip and thigh muscle strength.
Although Gowers’ sign is most classically reported for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it is also seen in centronuclear myopathy, myotonic dystrophy, and various other conditions associated with proximal muscle weakness. For this maneuver, the patient is placed on the floor away from any objects that could otherwise be used to pull oneself to a standing position.