What is foot drop?
Foot drop describes difficulty lifting the front of the foot and toes during walking. The toes may drag or catch the floor, especially during the swing phase of gait.
It is a symptom caused by weakness, nerve dysfunction or altered muscle control rather than a condition in its own right.
What does foot drop look like?
Common signs include toe catching, foot slap and lifting the knee higher than usual to clear the foot.
Some people swing the leg outward or alter their walking pattern to avoid catching the toes.
What is a high-stepping gait?
A high-stepping gait is a compensatory pattern where the hip and knee lift more than usual so the toes clear the ground.
It can increase effort and may contribute to fatigue during longer walks.
What is foot slap?
Foot slap occurs when the forefoot drops quickly toward the floor after the heel contacts the ground.
It can happen when the muscles that control the lowering of the foot are weak.
Does foot drop increase the risk of trips and falls?
Yes. Reduced toe clearance can make the foot catch on uneven ground, thresholds, stairs or changes in surface height.
Falls can also be influenced by balance, sensation, vision, strength and the underlying neurological condition.
What causes foot drop?
Foot drop can result from problems affecting the peripheral nerves, spinal nerve roots, brain, spinal cord or muscles.
The common peroneal nerve near the outside of the knee is one of the most frequent sites of nerve compression or injury.
Can crossing the legs or kneeling cause foot drop?
Prolonged pressure around the outside of the knee can compress the common peroneal nerve.
This can occur after prolonged leg crossing, kneeling, squatting, immobility or significant weight loss.
Can a slipped disc cause foot drop?
Yes. A lumbar disc problem can irritate or compress a nerve root that supplies the muscles responsible for lifting the foot and toes.
New weakness with severe back or leg symptoms needs prompt medical assessment.
Can diabetes cause foot drop?
Diabetes can contribute through peripheral neuropathy or damage to an individual nerve.
Sudden one-sided foot drop should not automatically be attributed to diabetes because other causes may need urgent investigation.
Can stroke cause foot drop?
Yes. Stroke can affect the brain pathways controlling ankle and foot movement.
The presentation may include weakness, spasticity, altered sensation or changes in knee control as well as foot drop.
Can multiple sclerosis cause foot drop?
Yes. MS can affect the nerve pathways controlling the leg and may cause weakness, spasticity, fatigue or altered sensation.
Symptoms can vary through the day and may become more noticeable with fatigue or heat.
Can surgery or injury cause foot drop?
Foot drop can follow injury or surgery affecting the knee, hip, spine or peripheral nerves.
The expected recovery and treatment depend on the location and severity of the nerve or neurological problem.
How is foot drop assessed?
Assessment may include testing ankle and toe strength, sensation, reflexes, walking pattern and ankle movement.
Depending on the suspected cause, further investigations can include nerve-conduction studies, electromyography or imaging.
How is foot drop treated?
Treatment focuses on the underlying cause and on safer, more efficient walking.
Options may include physiotherapy, an ankle-foot orthosis, functional electrical stimulation and, in selected structural or longstanding cases, surgery.
What is an AFO?
An ankle-foot orthosis can help position or lift the foot during walking. Different designs provide different levels of toe lift, ankle stability and knee influence.
Can foot drop improve?
Yes, depending on the cause and severity. Temporary nerve compression and some injuries can recover, while other neurological conditions may cause persistent weakness.
Important: New or worsening foot drop should be assessed rather than self-diagnosed. The symptom can arise from several different parts of the nervous system and the correct treatment depends on the underlying cause.
When is foot drop an emergency?
Seek urgent assessment for rapidly worsening weakness, new bladder or bowel problems, numbness around the genitals or bottom, severe back pain with neurological change, or signs of stroke such as facial weakness or speech difficulty.
