Foot Drop Syndrome

Foot drop syndrome is general caused by weakness that occurs in particular muscles of the ankles and feet. The impacted muscles contribute in the downward and upward movement of the ankle and the foot. Those who are suffering with foot drop generally loose the ability to pull the toes up while the leg is moving forward, and a simple routine like walking can become a challenge to people with a foot drop syndrome.

Here are some general causes of the weakening of the muscles in the foot.

Foot Drop Syndrome Causes

• Damage to the nerves – damage to the nerves affects the transmission of impulses that help to control muscle movement and function.
• Motor neuron disease like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS – tumors in the brain or spinal cord and diseases of the nerve roots of the lumbar spine all produce neurological conditions that may generate foot drop. Also, there might be some skeletal or other anatomical abnormality that affects the movement of the foot or ankle.

On the other hand, foot drop treatments will depend on the underlying cause of the foot dropping.

Foot Drop Syndrome Treatment

• Physical therapy – movements or exercises to enhance the way you walk can be a big help.
• Nerve Encouragements – lifting the feet when you step improves foot drop especially if the cause of foot drop is stroke.
• Braces or Orthopedic Splints – the objective of bracing is to give the patients a normal and comfortable pace. This is by fitting the brace or splint inside your shoe and supports your foot in a usual position. A podiatrist can best help with creating these custom helpers.
• Surgical treatment – this should always be the last resort and this is only employed when the cause of the foot drop serious like in nerve assault and direct shock of the dorsiflexors. It is either re-establishing the stability of the nerve, nerve insult removal or direct repair or the nerve is done.

Suffering from foot drop is what people often complain, nowadays. Be more aware of your feet to avoid this kind of infirmity.

Foot drop syndrome is a serious condition that’s why you need to start treatment sooner rather than later in order to prevent further physical damage.