Drop Foot
Foot & Ankle Care of Colorado
Drop foot refers to the inability to lift the front part of the foot off the ground when walking, leading to scuffing or dragging of the foot or lifting the thigh higher in a “steppage” gait. It is most often caused by nerve or muscle disorders, damage, or central nervous system disorders.
Drop foot is usually diagnosed through a physical examination, although additional testing may be recommended. Treatment options include braces, physical therapy, and electrical nerve stimulation. In some cases, surgery may be required.
Causes of Drop Foot
Foot drop is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot. Causes of foot drop might include:
- Nerve injury. The most common cause of foot drop is compression of a nerve in the leg that controls the muscles involved in lifting the foot. This nerve is called the peroneal nerve. A serious knee injury can lead to the nerve being compressed. It can also be injured during hip or knee replacement surgery, which may cause foot drop. A nerve root injury — “pinched nerve” — in the spine also can cause foot drop. People who have diabetes are more susceptible to nerve disorders, which are associated with foot drop.
- Muscle or nerve disorders. Various forms of muscular dystrophy, an inherited disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, can contribute to foot drop. So can other neurologic disorders, such as polio or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
- Brain and spinal cord disorders. Disorders that affect the spinal cord or brain — such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — may cause foot drop.
Drop Foot Symptoms
Foot drop makes it difficult to lift the front part of the foot, so it might drag on the floor when you walk. To help the foot clear the floor, a person with foot drop may raise the thigh more than usual when walking, as though climbing stairs. This unusual kind of walking, called steppage gait, might cause the foot to slap down onto the floor with each step. In some cases, the skin on the top of the foot and toes feels numb.
Depending on the cause, foot drop can affect one or both feet.
