What is foot drop syndrome?
People develop foot drop syndrome when they are unable to raise the front part of their foot. This happens because the muscles that lift the foot become weak or stop working. People with foot drop are more likely to fall because they cannot lift their foot fully when walking.
Symptoms of foot drop syndrome
People with foot drop drag their affected foot along the ground when they walk. Their toes scrape the ground with each step. Many people lift their knees higher on the affected side to avoid scraping their toes. Doctors call this walking pattern a "steppage gait."
Some people feel numbness or tingling in their affected foot or shin. Doctors also call this condition drop foot, nerve damage in the leg, or foot drop palsy.
Foot drop can affect one foot (unilateral) or both feet (bilateral). Doctors consider foot drop a sign of a separate health problem. The condition can be temporary or permanent, depending on what causes it.
Causes of foot drop syndrome
Several conditions can cause foot drop:
- Brain and nerve diseases that affect muscles, such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, and cerebral palsy
- Motor nerve disorders, such as polio, some forms of spinal muscular atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Spinal nerve damage from spinal cord injuries or conditions such as spinal stenosis, which happens when the spine becomes narrow and puts pressure on nerves
- Inherited peripheral nerve disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or nerve damage from diabetes
- Direct nerve damage to the leg near the knee, which can happen from crossing legs at the knees for long periods
- Muscle disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, that can cause weakness when the body mistakenly targets its own muscle tissues
How is foot drop syndrome diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosing foot drop syndrome
Doctors use several methods to diagnose foot drop, such as physical exams and tests that measure how well nerves and muscles work. Doctors also use imaging tests (or scans) to see inside the body. These include ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-rays, and CT (computed tomography).
Healthcare providers combine results from these tests to help determine what causes foot drop. This helps them choose the best treatments for each person.
Learn more about neurological diagnostic tests and procedures.
Treating foot drop syndrome
Treatment depends on the specific cause of foot drop and can include:
- External foot support, such as lightweight leg braces and shoe inserts (ankle-foot orthotics)
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and maintain joint motion
- Leg nerve stimulation to regain some muscle control
- Surgery to relieve pressure on the common fibular nerve (a major nerve in the lower leg) which may help regain muscle control
- In people with permanent loss of movement, surgery that fuses the foot and ankle joint or that transfers tendons from stronger leg muscles
People who develop foot drop from trauma or nerve damage often recover partially or completely. But people with progressive brain diseases are likely to have permanent foot drop. Their condition will continue to worsen over time.
What are the latest updates on foot drop syndrome?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes NINDS, is the leading federal source of funding for research on the brain and nervous system, including disorders such as foot drop syndrome. NIH supports new research to better understand, diagnose, and treat foot drop syndrome.
Current NIH-funded research is exploring ways that foot drop syndrome causes disease.
Examples include:
- A study that compares conventional physical therapy to therapy using a portable ankle robotic device for treating foot drop and helping to restore independent walking after a stroke
- A study examining the potential of electrical stimulation to muscles after a spinal cord injury to help with foot drop, both by itself and in conjunction with other therapies
- A study evaluating the use of wearable sensors to measure how people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease walk, that aims to improve walking and balance
For more information on research about foot drop syndrome, check out NIH RePORTER, a searchable database of current and past research projects funded by NIH and other federal agencies. RePORTER also has links to publications and resources from these projects.
For research articles and summaries on foot drop syndrome, search PubMed, which contains citations from medical journals and other sites.
How can I or my loved one help improve care for people with foot drop syndrome?
Consider participating in a clinical trial so doctors and scientists can learn more about foot drop syndrome and related disorders. Clinical research with human study participants helps researchers learn more about disorders and can lead to better ways to safely detect, treat, or prevent diseases.
All types of participants are needed—those who are healthy or may have an illness or disease—of all different ages, sexes, races, and ethnicities. This helps make sure that study results apply to as many people as possible and that treatments will be safe and effective for everyone who will use them.
For information about participating in clinical research, visit the NINDS Clinical Trials site and NIH Clinical Research Trials and You. Learn about clinical trials currently looking for people with foot drop syndrome at ClinicalTrials.gov, a searchable database of current and past clinical studies and research results.
Where can I find more information about foot drop syndrome?
Information may be available from: