Foot Drop

Foot drop is a condition in which normal dorsiflexion, the bending of the ankle and toes upwards, is not possible, leading to a characteristic labored gait called steppage gait. Foot drop is treated by addressing the underlying condition. Because foot drop can result from a variety of conditions, including disorders of the nervous or muscular system, injury, and pharmaceutical side effects, any of a variety of treatments may be indicated.

If foot drop is the result of injury to the nervous system, such as a slipped disc impinging on the nerve leading to the foot, correcting the injury through surgery will relieve the foot drop. Foot drop resulting from injury to the dosiflexors, the muscles responsible for lifting the foot, can also be repaired through surgery.

Tendon transfer surgery is often helpful in correcting the condition as
well. Some medications, notably the chemotherapy drug Vincristine, carry the risk of peripheral neuropathy as a side effect, leading to conditions including foot drop. In such cases, discontinuing or lowering
the dosage of the drug may be necessary.

Other times, however, foot drop is the symptom of an untreatable condition. Some illnesses associated with foot drop are Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A patient suffering from one of these conditions must typically use a combination of orthotics and exercise to address foot drop.

Foot drop sufferers are usually fitted with an ankle foot orthosis (AFO), which provides foot and ankle support. The orthosis may be installed in shoes or worn separately. A relatively new treatment for foot drop involves using electricity to stimulate the peroneal nerve, which is responsible for lifting the foot while walking. This treatment is commonly used in conjunction with an AFO. Physical therapy can also help strengthen a patient's dorsiflexors and improve his or her gait.

Physical therapy

A surgeon might be able to reattach a limb or repair a broken bone, but it often takes physical therapy to restore a patient's function. Physical therapy, broadly speaking, involves direct manipulation of muscles, joints and other parts of the body affected by an injury or chronic illness. Strength training, heat treatments, massage and supervised exercises may all be elements of physical therapy. Individual physical therapy regimens often depend on the type of injury or condition, the patient's age and specialized treatments prescribed by a physician.
Sometimes physical therapy is used to address the injury itself and other times it is used to help the patient compensate for the loss of use. Physical therapists may use strength training, for example, to make life on a walker or in a wheelchair more bearable. Other forms of physical therapy may actually improve range of motion or realignment of the affected area. Patients may have to learn how to use their non-dominant hand or develop a new walking style to accommodate a prosthesis.
Physical therapy may also involve the use of braces, walkers or other mobility aids. Patients may be encouraged to exercise the injured areas while wearing supportive devices. Water therapy may also be used to reduce the amount of weight placed on an injured limb. Physical therapy can also duplicate the conditions patients may face at work or home during a typical day.

The field of physical therapy, much like other medical-related occupations, continues to grow in demand. Professional physical therapists attend at least four years in college-level training, with a heavy emphasis on human physiology and biology. Most candidates also spend years working directly with experienced physical therapists before seeking their own licenses to practice. There are numerous occupations available for a physical therapy major, including nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, professional sports teams and hospitals. Many physical therapists continue their training and become supervisors or private practitioners for home health care needs