Drop foot

What is drop foot?

Drop foot, also known as foot drop, is when a person cannot lift the front part of their foot properly. This can cause the toes to drag while walking, increasing the risk of trips, instability, and balance issues. It may affect one or both feet and can significantly impact mobility.

It occurs when the muscles that allow the ankle and toes to flex become weak or damaged, making it difficult to move them upwards (dorsiflexion).

People with drop foot will often walk with their raised leg bent at the knee to compensate for the front of the foot ‘dropping’ and dragging along the floor.

Causes

Drop foot is not a disease in itself but rather a symptom of an underlying neurological or muscular disorder, such as:

• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• spinal cord injuries
• stroke
• certain genetic conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Drop foot can also be caused by an injury or nerve damage.

Risks

The immediate risk of not treating drop foot is tripping and falling over, resulting in serious injury. This is especially the case in older patients.

Leaving drop foot untreated can also lead to other orthopaedic issues, including:

• pain in the forefoot
• collapse of the mid foot
• metatarsalgia (flat foot)
• tightness in the calf and Achilles tendon
• hyperextension of the knee
• hip and knee alignment problems

Because drop foot also makes walking more difficult, patients often complain of having to constantly look at the floor while walking, which is tiring. This can lead to postural problems such as kyphosis and back pain.

Treatment

If your drop foot is caused by an injury, inflammation or nerve damage, it may go away on its own and a full recovery is possible.

If it’s caused by permanent nerve damage or a progressive neurological condition, it’s usually a lifelong symptom to manage. This is where bespoke orthotics can offer a very effective solution to drop foot.

See our drop foot treatment page