Foot drop impairs the ability to lift the foot’s front, often due to peroneal nerve injury, muscle weakness, or neurological conditions like stroke. This causes toe-dragging, increasing fall risk and affecting gait. Treatment includes physical therapy to strengthen muscles, ankle-foot orthoses for support, or surgery in severe cases. Early intervention is vital to restore mobility and prevent secondary issues like joint stiffness. Tailored rehabilitation plans, guided by clinical evaluation, enhance recovery, allowing patients to regain confidence in movement and improve quality of life.

Foot drop is the inability to dorsiflex the ankle, leading to a high-stepping gait to prevent toe dragging. It results from weakness or paralysis of the tibialis anterior and associated dorsiflexor muscles, most often due to common peroneal nerve injury, lumbar radiculopathy, or neurological conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis. Diagnosis involves neurological examination, electromyography, and imaging. Management includes addressing the underlying cause, physiotherapy, ankle-foot orthoses (AFO), and in some cases, nerve or tendon transfer surgery. Early rehabilitation improves functional outcomes.

Management focuses on treating the primary condition, strengthening affected muscles through physiotherapy, and using ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) to improve gait stability. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be considered. Early rehabilitation is essential to restore mobility and prevent secondary complications.