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What is Foot drop?
Foot drop is when a person is unable to effectively raise the foot at the ankle. Foot drop is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles at the front of the lower leg (dorsi flexors). Foot drop can cause abnormal walking patterns. Foot drop can be a result of a neurological problem and it can affect one or both feet. Foot drop can be a temporary or permanent problem depending on the cause.
Above: Neurological physiotherapist fitting an ankle brace to prevent foot drop during mobilisation.What conditions can cause foot drop?
Physiotherapists commonly treat people with foot drop as a result of neurological problems or muscular disorders including:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Spinal stenosis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Nerve palsy
- Head injury
- CMT
How can physiotherapy benefit your foot drop?
Physiotherapy can be beneficial for foot drop in the following ways:
- Improve the movement of your foot.
- Improve your ability with stairs.
- Helping you to be independent with your daily activities indoors such as walking from bedroom to bathroom.
- Improving your balance.
- Reduce your risk of falling.
- Reduce your risk of injury around your home.
- Help you to become independent with your daily activities such as washing, dressing, cooking.
- Allowing you to continue independently.
- Improving your strength.
- Allowing you to become more confident in coping with foot drop.
What physiotherapy treatments help people with foot drop?
There are various treatments that physiotherapists may carry out for people with foot drop. A structured program tailored to your needs will be developed between you and your physiotherapist so that you get the most out of your treatment. Your treatment at Physio.co.uk may involve:
- Functional electrical stimulation.
- Gait re education.
- Stretching programmes.
- Active and passive movements.
- Lower limb orthotics.
- Lower limb strengthening exercise.
- Balance exercises.
- Mobility rehabilitation.
- Proprioceptive exercises.
- Range of movement exercises.
Summary
Foot drop is the inability to pull your foot towards your ankle because of muscle weakness in the lower part of the leg. Physiotherapy is beneficial to anyone who is suffering from foot drop.
To book an appointment at Physio.co.uk or for further information on how we can help to improve your foot drop, please call 0330 088 7800.
