Drop Foot Symptoms
Drop Foot is a potentially complex problem that interferes with a person's ability to walk. Its causes are typically muscular or neurological in nature. The condition can be temporary or permanent depending on the particular cause, although there are means to alleviate the symptoms and make the problem more manageable.
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Facts
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Drop Foot, sometimes called Foot Drop, is when a person has difficulty lifting the front portion of their foot. This causes the foot to either drag or slap the floor with each step. To compensate, people will sometimes lift their thigh higher as if they were climbing stairs. This abnormal, high-stepping walk is referred to as Steppage Gait.
Symptoms
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An inability to lift the front portion of the foot is often the only symptom of Drop Foot. On occasion, pain, weakness, and numbness in the foot may be present. Drop Foot typically only affects one foot, although on rare instances both feet can become compromised.
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Causes
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The muscles responsible for lifting the front of the foot are located in the lower leg below the knee. Drop Foot develops when these muscles become weak or paralyzed due to any number of muscular, neurological, or anatomical problems.
Muscle or nerve damage is responsible for most Drop Foot cases. This can come from trauma to the lower leg muscles or to the nerves in the leg or lower spine. Diabetes can also cause long-term nerve damage. Even sitting too long with crossed legs can pinch the nerves below the knee and cause temporary Drop Foot.
Other causes include any number of muscle and nerve disorders, such as muscular dystrophy and compartment nerve syndromes, or central nervous disorders, like ALS, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Reactions to certain prescription drugs, especially those associated with chemotherapy and multiple sclerosis, can also lead to Drop Foot.
Identification
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A physical exam is generally all that's needed to diagnose Drop Foot. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Electromyography (EMG) tests may also be performed for additional confirmation.
Treatment
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Drop Foot's solution comes in treating the underlying cause. Braces or splints can be used to keep the foot in proper position. Physical therapy can strengthen muscles and improve gait. In certain instances, surgery could be the best option, particularly when a herniated disc in the spine is compressing nerves.
Another alternative is nerve stimulation. A small battery-operated nerve stimulator can be worn on the leg to administer electric shocks to improve muscle performance.
Misconception
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Drop Foot is not a disease. It's merely a symptom of a more serious underlying problem.
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