Foot drop
Overview
Foot drop (drop foot) is where it's difficult to lift or move your foot and toes. It usually affects 1 foot and can affect the way you walk.
Causes
The most common cause of foot drop is an injury to a nerve that runs down your leg and controls the muscles that lift your foot. This can be caused by: sports injuriesaslipped discin the spinecrossing your legs, kneeling or squatting for long periods of timeproblems with your nerves (peripheral neuropathy) caused by diabeteship or knee replacement surgerynot moving for a long time (for example, if you're staying in hospital) Foot drop can get better on its own and with treatment, but sometimes it can be permanent. Less common causes of foot drop include: inherited conditions likeCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseasemuscle weakness caused bymuscular dystrophy,spinal muscular atrophyormotor neurone diseasedamage to the brain or spinal cord caused by astroke,cerebral palsy,Parkinson's diseaseormultiple sclerosis
Treatment
How foot drop is treated depends on what's causing it and how long you've had it for. Sometimes it can get better on its own. Common treatments for foot drop include: physiotherapy to strengthen or stretch the muscles in your leg and foota brace, splint or shoe insert to help hold the foot in positiona small device that's put onto or under your skin and uses electrical signals to help your nerves work (electrical stimulation) – especially if you've had a stroke or have multiple sclerosis If you have permanent loss of movement from foot drop, you may have surgery to fuse the ankle and foot joints, or repair or graft the nerve.