What Causes Foot Drop?

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 13, 2009 – A person with foot drop is unable to lift the front part of his foot (a movement known as dorsiflexion).  When a person with foot drop attempts to walk, the foot will slap down on the floor.  The affected person may try to accommodate the condition by walking on his toes, but he will be unable to walk on his heels (one of the tests a podiatrist uses to diagnose the condition).  Foot drop usually only affects one foot, but in certain cases both feet may be rendered immobile.  
Foot drop occurs when the muscles below the knee that are responsible for lifting the front part of the foot (the anterior tibialis) become abnormally weak or even paralyzed.  Foot drop is usually the result of a neurological dysfunction, although occasionally it can be linked to muscular dysfunction.  It can be caused by nerve damage (either in the central or peripheral nervous system), which paralyzes the muscles in the lower leg.  This nerve damage can be the result of injury, or surgery (foot drop is a particularly common side effect in hip or knee replacement surgery).  You can even give yourself a temporary case of foot drop if you sit with your legs crossed for too long.  

Various nervous or muscular disorders are also associated with foot drop.  Multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or stroke can all lead to damage in the nervous or muscular system that triggers the condition.
Finally, there are several medications that can sometimes lead to a temporary side effect of foot drop.  Your doctor should inform you when taking one of these drugs.
In order to treat foot drop, the underlying disorder must be treated and so a proper diagnosis is very important.  MRI and EMG scans can be very helpful when it comes to properly diagnosing the condition.  In the meantime, the symptoms of the condition can be alleviated using custom orthotics that wrap around your ankle and attach to your shoe with a small band.  These orthotics will help your weakened muscles “lift” the ankle.  Orthotics designed to be worn barefoot or during the night are also available.  Speak with your doctor or podiatrist for more details.