What is foot drop?
Foot drop is the inability to raise the front part of the foot due to weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the foot [1]. This leads to: lower leg muscle atrophy, contracture, inability to stand on the heel, inability to load the lateral side of the foot, gait abnormalities, and compensation [2].
Foot drop leads to gait impairments, such as unsymmetrical and inharmonious gait, steppage gait, and poor balance for those affected [2].
Who is affected by foot drop?
Population of those who experience foot drop include those who suffer from neurodegenerative disorders like Multiple Sclerosis and Stroke, motor neuron disorders like Lou Gehrig’s Disease, muscle disorders like muscular dystrophy, and injuries causing nerve damage in the lower limbs or spine [1].
What are the existing solutions available?
Many of the solutions available are braces made to fit the foot affected. Existing devices include shoe inserts, lightweight braces, and nerve stimulators. In some cases of foot drop, physical therapy and surgery may be necessary to correct the underlying cause of the symptom.
- “Foot Drop Information Page.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Wizomirska, I., Blazkiewicz, M., Kaczmarcyk, L., Bruskiewicz-Kuzmicka, G., & Wit, A. (2017). Effect of Drop Foot on Spatiotemporal, Kinematic, and Kinetic Parameters during Gait. Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, 2017, 3596461.