Foot drop or drop foot is the disorder in which people find difficulty in lifting thier foot completely off the ground while walking.The muscles of the foot become so weak that it makes the foot slap the ground instead of moving it normally.
Causes and symptoms of foot drop
Foot drop is not a disease its just either muscular, neurological or anatomical problem.Depending on the cause of foot drop it can be temporary or permanent.The most common symptom of drop foot is the inability to lift the front portion of the foot.
Causes of foot drop:
The most common cause of foot drop is injury to the muscle or nerve that controls the foot.Other causes include-
- Paralysis of muscles of ankle and foot.
- Nerve damage.
- Muscle damage.
- Nervous system disorders.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Diabetes.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Tumor or stroke.
- Muscular dystrophy.
Symptoms of foot drop:
The main symptom of foot drop is difficulty in lifting the front part of your foot.Other symptoms are-
- Dragging the foot while walking.
- Foot weakness.
- Foot numbness.
- Pain in the foot.
- Tingling sensation in lower portion of leg.
- Tripping
- Slapping the foot while moving forward.
Treatment of foot drop:
It is necessary to know the primary cause of dropped foot.Treating the root cause improves the condition.Visit your foot doctor he/she may advise you for the following treatment-
- Surgery.
- Nerve stimulation
- Physical therapy
- Braces.
Treatment of foot drop
Braces and splints are attached into your shoes so that you can walk normally.Physical therapy is applied to strengthen the weak muscles and to improve the mobility of your foot.
If the foot drop is permanent then you need to go through a foot surgery which improves the motion of your foot.Surgery involves transfer of tendons from strong leg muscles to the weaker ones.On the other hand nerve stimulation is also beneficial for foot drop.If the reason behind foot drop is stroke then nerve stimulation can improve the normal movement of your foot.
“The information present here is for general purpose please consult your doctor before taking any medication/therapy”