Foot drop isn’t a
disease itself; it results from an underlying condition that causes the muscles
of the foot to become paralyzed and flaccid. Foot drop is fairly common and can
be either temporary or permanent depending upon the severity of the disease condition
causing it.
How do you know you
have foot drop? The classic sign of a
drop foot is difficulty in lifting the foot from the ground. If the foot drags
when you walk or if you need to lift your knees high to walk in an unusual way,
it could be a foot drop. Proper physical evaluation by a doctor will accurately
diagnose the condition.
What causes a foot
drop? There can be several
underlying conditions that can cause the muscles of your foot to become weak or
paralyzed.
The most common cause
is a direct nerve injury. This could be because of a cerebrovascular accident
(stroke) or any other disease that affects the nerves. Nerve injury could also
occur due to trauma during a surgery. The nerve that is damaged in a foot drop
is the peroneal nerve.
Other causes of foot
drop include musculoskeletal disorders, viral infections such as polio, and
even spinal cord lesions and disorders.
Treatment for foot
drop Several medical
intervention methods have been employed to rehabilitate a patient with foot
drop including conservative measures and surgical correction.
Orthosis and
splints/braces are the first line of treatment in mild cases however the
recovery period is prolonged. Physiotherapy and special exercises are also
shown to improve the power of the muscles of the foot.
In more severe cases
surgical correction that used the attachment of a tendon to the foot is usually
recommended. With proper post-op care and rehab, the prognosis of a surgically
corrected foot drop is impressive.