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FOOT DROP

 Introduction:

Any injury or illness that results in impaired function of the muscle in the front of the shin, then it may suffer from foot drop. Foot drop occurs when the anterior tibialis muscle that helps lift our foot up does not function properly. When that happens, it may catch our toes on the floor for walking.



Foot drop often causes a specific gait pattern called a high stepping gait. This gait pattern is easily recognizable in people with foot drop. During step forward,  foot and toes drop towards the ground. To clear the foot off the ground, and making flex hip and knee excessively, and this results in a high stepping gait.

Foot drop,can managed the skilled services of a physical therapist to help treat the condition. Physical therapist will assess  foot drop and use various techniques to help improve the condition. The main goal of physical therapy for foot drop is to improve functional mobility related to walking. This can ensure that able to get around safely and may lower your risk of falling.

 

Causes of Foot Drop:

There may be many different causes of foot drop. Occasionally, problems in the central nervous system may cause weakness or paralysis of anterior tibialis muscle. Other times, injury to the nerves in leg may cause foot drop. Some common causes of foot drop may include, but are not limited to:

  • Stroke
  • Sciatica
  • Peroneal nerve injury
  • Transverse myelitis
  • Multiple sclerosis


Physical Therapy Assessment for Foot Drop:

During initial physical therapy session, physical therapist will ask some questions about the condition. All the questions about the nature of injury, how foot drop is affecting our life, and how long foot drop has been present.

Various tests and measures may be taken during initial appointment. These may include:

  •  Foot and ankle range of motion (ROM)
  • Lower extremity muscle strength(MRC grading)
  • Functional mobility
  • Functional outcomes measures
  • Balance and proprioception

Physical Therapy Treatments for Foot Drop:

After that  physical therapist assesses the condition, he or she will be able to determine the best treatment for foot drop. The main goal of physical therapy for foot drop is to improve walking and functional mobility.

Physical therapist may use various treatment modalities to help improve the function of anterior tibialis muscle. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may be used to help improve the muscle contracts and lifts foot. This type of electrical stimulation artificially contracts the muscle to help re-educate it to contract properly. Ankle exercises are typically performed during and after NMES treatments.

Exercises for Foot Drop

There are many different exercises for foot drop.  Exercises to improve ankle strength with a particular focus on anterior tibialis are essential. If foot drop is being caused by compression of sciatic nerve from back, low back exercises may be prescribed in an attempt to relieve that compression and restore normal function to anterior tibialis.

If anterior tibialis muscle is not functioning to flex your ankle, calf muscle behind the leg may become tight. Exercises to stretch your calf muscle may be prescribed to help keep it from getting too tight.








Balance may become affected in the foot drop. In this case, physical therapist may prescribe balance exercises. A BAPS board may be used to help improve balance and proprioception.

External Supports and Bracing for Foot Drop:

During physical therapy sessions, physical therapist will work to help improve the  ability to lift the foot while walking. One technique to lift the foot while walking is by using an elastic band around the leg and foot. The band stretches when walk and then pulls the foot up. Using an elastic band is a temporary solution for foot drop, but it may help to improve gait pattern during the initial phases of foot drop rehabilitation. This can help avoid getting into bad habits of using a high stepping gait pattern.



Physical therapist can assess during rehabilitation and evaluate progression of rehabilitation programme. Sometimes, improvement with foot drop is slow, so stick with it. Occasionally, foot drop is a permanent condition(eg. paraplegia, third degree nerve injury etc.), and an external brace called an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) is necessary to help lift foot while walking.  If this is the case, PT can make recommendations for the best AFO with proper instruction to wear.




THOSE ABOVE ARE COLLECTED FROM SOME WEBSITES.

THANK YOU,

SRIKUMARAN PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC & FITNESS CENTER

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