This thread came up as I searched for an explanation for why YOUNG people shuffle their feet. I'll be shopping at Walmart and someone walks down the isle in slides, zero observable physical ailments. (Yes, I understand not all disabilities are observable) The person is no older than 40 and often it's a teenager or a 20something. Has it become cool to walk lazily? Like when I was in high school, you wore your backpack a certain way or else you weren't perceived as cool. Is shuffling your feet some folks' version of that sort of signaling?

You are free to always free to ask! My husband also shuffles and it is strange to me. He went from being a very loud stomper to shuffling. Dr. Says it is a brain thing that sometimes we can change and sometimes its about the dementia.
He said its a little tale like not swinging your arms when you walk. He encouraged us to take purposeful steps and notice if our arms are swinging on both sides. It is a brain wiring that you don’t want to lose.