Diseases & Conditions

Foot drop

Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term used to describe difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, you may drag the front of your foot on the ground when you walk.

Foot drop isn't a disease. Rather, foot drop is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem.

Sometimes foot drop is temporary. In other cases, foot drop is permanent. If you have foot drop, you may need to wear a brace on your ankle and foot to hold your foot in a normal position.

Often, the only sign of foot drop is difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. Your foot may drag on the floor when you walk or slap down onto the floor with each step. You may compensate by raising your thigh when you walk, as if you were climbing stairs. This is sometimes called steppage gait.

Sometimes, foot drop is accompanied by pain, weakness or numbness in the foot.

Foot drop typically affects only one foot. Depending on the underlying cause, however, it's possible for both feet to be affected.

If you can't lift your foot or you drag your foot when you walk, consult your doctor.

Treatment for foot drop depends on the underlying cause. If the underlying cause is successfully treated, foot drop may improve or even disappear. If the underlying cause can't be treated, foot drop may be permanent.

Specific treatment for foot drop may include:

• Braces or splints. A brace on your ankle and foot or splint that fits into your shoe can help hold your foot in a normal position.
• Physical therapy. Exercises to improve the way you walk may be helpful.
• Nerve stimulation. Sometimes stimulating the nerve that lifts the foot when you step (peroneal nerve) improves foot drop, especially in the case of foot drop caused by a stroke. In some cases, a small, battery-operated electrical stimulator is strapped to the leg just below the knee. In other cases, the stimulator is implanted in the leg.
• Surgery. In some cases, nerve or spinal problems can be surgically corrected.

The goal of any type of treatment for foot drop is to help you maximize your mobility and independence.