An individual with foot drop (also called drop foot and dropped foot) finds it difficult or impossible to lift the front of their foot. Their brain emits movement signals, but the foot and ankle don’t respond properly due to nerve and muscle issues. Foot drop is most problematic when walking: the toes get dragged along the ground, as shown in the video of a person with foot drop from the medical resource NEJM Group.
Foot drop is usually seen in just one foot, but occasionally both feet are affected. Some sufferers are born with it; most develop it later. This condition can appear gradually or suddenly (it’s not unheard of for someone to simply wake up with it). The condition can often be fully resolved over time and with medical intervention, but some cases are permanent, especially ones caused by lifelong/long-term health problems.
As you can tell, people’s experiences vary considerably. This is because the condition has a wide range of causes, some of which are more serious than others. If you suspect you have foot drop, it’s vital to seek expert help to get a clear understanding of what’s happening in your particular case. So please don’t hesitate to visit our skilled, caring London chiropody and podiatry team for a firm diagnosis, treatment plan and reassurance.
Symptoms of Foot Drop
If you have foot drop, you’re likely to experience some/all of the following signs and symptoms:
- Struggling to raise the front of your foot and point toes upwards because you feel as if there’s a heavy weight attached to your ankle
- Struggling to wiggle your toes
- Toes failing to clear the ground when you step forward and developing grazes, calluses or bruises as a result
- A slapping noise when the foot makes contact with the ground, as the muscles aren’t lowering it properly
- Increased wear on the front part of shoes’ soles
- Frequently stumbling, tripping or falling
- Muscle weakness and wastage in the foot/lower leg
- Tingling or numbness in the foot/lower leg
- Changes to your gait – many people with foot drop develop steppage gait, which means lifting the knee higher than usual when walking to stop toes dragging on the ground. Healthline points out that people with steppage gait tend to look ‘as though they were walking up stairs’.
Causes
There are many reasons why an individual may experience foot drop, but the most common cause is damage to the peroneal nerve. This major nerve, which runs down your leg and through your foot, controls the muscles that lift the front of your foot. If it gets compressed (as a result of inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis, for example) or injured (due to a dislocated knee or ankle fracture, say), it struggles to make the muscles move properly.
Another common cause of foot drop is sciatica: a nerve root in the lower back gets compressed (often because of a slipped disc), which impairs the function of the nervous system in the lower limbs.
Less common foot drop causes include serious health conditions such as:
- Cerebral palsy – the brain and nerves struggle to communicate with muscles
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – the immune system damages the nervous system
- Parkinson’s disease – some of the brain’s nerve cells die, impairing movement
- Muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy – these genetic disorders lead to muscle degeneration
- Motor Neurone Disease (MND) – leads to nerve damage and muscle weakness
- Stroke – part of the brain’s blood supply is lost, impairing movement
Diagnosing and Treating Foot Drop
As chiropody and podiatry experts, we can conduct a thorough biomechanical assessment, including gait analysis, to assess your lower limbs’ range of movement, check for loss of feeling and also check for signs of foot drop such as steppage gait. In addition, imaging tests can help us to locate/identify issues such as nerve compression.
If we diagnose foot drop, we’ll devise a tailored treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms and make walking easier. This may include:
- Chiropody treatments to soothe sore toes
- Foot exercises for strength and stability
- Foot Mobilisation Therapy to improve your range of motion
- Orthotics to improve foot/ankle function and help your affected foot to maintain a more natural position
- Walking aids such as canes
- Ankle brace – a strong cord attached to an ankle strap to lift the front of your foot
- Gait retraining – to improve your walking style and minimise steppage gait
- Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) – a wearable device to stimulate muscle movements
- Surgery to repair or relieve pressure on the peroneal nerve in chronic cases
For expert help with foot drop in London, book an appointment with Feet By Pody today.