Foot Drop Causes & Cures

Foot drop (or drop foot) is not a disease in itself. It points towards an underlying problem, which could be neurological or muscular in nature. In this disorder, the patient cannot raise their foot at the ankle. This can be because of either paralysis or weakness in the muscles of the foot. As a result, when the patient walks, his foot drags on the ground or he has to bend the knee in order to lift his foot higher to avoid dragging it.

Common Causes

• As it is with most medical conditions, there is not one cause that is responsible for the development of foot drop. Some of the common causes can be neurodegenerative disorders that affect the brain, such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and stroke. Other causes include polio, Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease and diabetes. Finally, drugs and alcohol can cause adverse reactions, which may lead to foot drop, and an injury to the lower leg or foot may result in the development of this condition.

Lower Back Conditions

• If you suffer from conditions in the lower back, there are chances that the vein leading to the peroneal nerve in the lower leg can be put under great pressure. This results in additional stress on the muscles that control the flexing of the foot.
  When these muscles are severely compromised, you may end up with foot drop. Some of the lower back problems that can cause foot drop are lumbar herniated disc, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.

Treatment

• What treatment your medical health specialist prescribes for foot drop will depend on what initially caused the problem. Unless the underlying cause is treated, you may not be able to entirely target the problem and get permanent relief from it. Generally speaking, the common treatments for would include foot drop braces or splints, physical therapy nonsurgical treatments and surgery.

  The first line of defense when you are diagnosed with foot drop is the wearing of braces or splints, also known as orthoses. An orthoses keeps the ankle in a neutral position of 90 degrees and, when walking, you will be able to keep the dropped foot off the ground. This way, you are able to walk more normally, with a better gait than before. Braces and splints designed especially for this purpose are made from polypropylene and are inserted into your shoe.

  If the foot drop is causing a lot of problems in your gait, you will be advised to take physical therapy and perform specific exercises. These will teach you how to walk with proper gait and with as little dragging of the foot as possible. Surgery is only considered in extreme cases, where the patient gets no relief from either the brace or physical therapy.