Drop Foot

Drop Foot

What is drop foot？

● Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, the front of your foot might drag on the ground when you walk. Foot drop isn't a disease. Rather, it is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem. Sometimes foot drop is temporary, but it can be permanent. If you have foot drop, you might need to wear a brace on your ankle and foot to support the foot and hold it in position.

What is drop foot？

● The most common cause of foot drop is an injury to a nerve that runs down your leg and controls the muscles that lift your foot. This can be caused by: ` ` Sports injuries A slipped disc in the spine Crossing your legs, kneeling or squatting for long periods of time Problems with your nerves (peripheral neur\opathy) caused by diabetes Hip or knee replacement surgery Not moving for a long time (for example, if you're staying in hospital) Foot drop can get better on its own and with treatment, but sometimes it can be permanent.

● Inherited conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

● Muscle weakness caused by muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy or motor neurone disease

● Damage to the brain or spinal cord caused by a stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

How to Treat Foot Drop?

● Treatment of foot drop depends on what is causing it. In some cases, treating the cause will also cure foot drop. If the cause is a chronic or ongoing illness, foot drop may be permanent. Certain people may benefit from physical and occupational therapy. Possible treatments include: Braces, splints, or shoe inserts to help support the foot and keep it in a more normal position. Physical therapy can help stretch and strengthen muscles and help you walk better. Nerve stimulation may help retrain the nerves and muscles of the foot. Surgery may be needed to relieve pressure on the nerve or to try to repair it. For long-term foot drop, your provider may suggest fusing the ankle or foot bones. Or you may have tendon surgery. In this, a working tendon and attached muscle is transferred to a different part of the foot.