What Causes Foot Drop?

Walking problems are commonly caused by foot drop (or drop foot). It is a condition where the front half of the foot cannot be raised. If you learn what causes foot drop, it will eliminate the root reason and will spare you from this abnormal condition.

Each stride may cause the foot to slam into the floor, and occasionally, the toes and top of the foot may become numb.

Steppage Gait

Steppage gait is a peculiar kind of walking in which the foot drags on the ground. People with drop feet typically elevate their thighs higher than normal when walking, almost as if they are ascending stairs, in an attempt to compensate.

Do these drop foot exercises.

Which Nerve Causes Foot Drop?

The primary nerve linked to foot drop is the peroneal nerve. This nerve is especially prone to damage or compression since it is close to the skin's surface outside the knee.

Foot drop can more likely occur while engaging in activities that impose pressure on this nerve, such as:

• Crossing your legs while sitting
• Kneeling for an extended period
• Wearing a leg cast

What Causes Foot Drop?

Foot drop is a sign of an underlying problem rather than a separate illness. It is frequently caused by diseases of the:

• Nerves
• Muscles
• Brain
• Spinal cord

Comprehending what causes foot drop is necessary to diagnose and treat patients effectively.

Pinched Nerve

A ‘pinched nerve,’ or damage to a nerve root in the spine, is another possible reason. Diabetics are more likely to have this symptom.

Nerve and Muscular Disorders

Several different muscle and nerve conditions may cause foot drop. For instance, muscular dystrophy affects the muscles required to raise the foot.

Foot drops can also result from neurological conditions that impact muscular function, such as:

• Polio
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome.

Disorders of the Brain and Spinal Cord

Foot drop can also be caused by conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord, such as multiple sclerosis, ALS, or stroke. These disorders impair the neural system's regular operation, resulting in a lack of foot muscle control.

Risk Factors

Several situations and behaviors might make foot drop more likely. For example, if you fold your legs habitually, you increase the probability of compacting the peroneal nerve in your upper leg, which can cause a foot drop.

This chance can likewise be increased by work that requires a lot of stooping or hunching, such as floor tiling or berry picking.

Foot drop can be brought about by applying stress to the peroneal nerve by wearing a leg cast that folds over the lower leg and reaches beyond the knee.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A physical examination is usually required to diagnose foot drop, evaluate muscular control, and detect any atrophy in the foot or leg muscles. To find the source of foot drop, other examinations are prescribed by physicians, such as:

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Nerve conduction investigations
• Imaging procedures like MRIs or CT scans

Prognosis

The underlying cause of the drop foot affects the prognosis. It can often be fully recovered with effective treatment. However, recovery might not be complete if the illness is linked to a more severe disease, such as stroke.

The Bottom Line

Learning about what causes foot drop reveals its several root causes. However, it is mainly associated with brain and spinal cord diseases, muscles, and nerves. This disorder primarily affects the peroneal nerve and foot drop is frequently caused by damage or compression to this nerve. Improving results and avoiding long-term problems need early identification and treatment.

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