Foot Drop Specialists in NJ

A general term, foot drop is a condition where you experience difficulty lifting the front part of your foot. You could feel compelled — even forced — to drag the front of your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop is not a disease in and of itself; it is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular, or anatomical complication. Foot drop can affect one foot or both feet and be temporary or permanent, depending on what causes it.

Common symptoms of foot drop include:

• Difficulty lifting front part of foot
• Pain or weakness in the foot
• Numbness on the shin or top of foot
• Steppage gait, also known as high stepping
• Complete loss of foot function

If non-surgical foot drop treatments are not effective, surgery may be recommended. The surgical procedure for foot drop is called a tendon transfer; a procedure in which a tendon (as well as attached muscle) that is still working is taken from one part of the foot and moved to another in an effort to replace the missing muscle function. The posterior tibial tendon is the most common tendon transferred.

Foot drop is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles used to lift the front part of the foot. Causes of foot drop our NJ specialists see often include:

• Nerve injury: The most common cause, the compression of a nerve in your leg that controls the muscles used to lift the foot can result in foot drop. Additionally, this nerve can be injured during hip or knee replacement surgery, which may result in foot drop. Those with diabetes are more susceptible to nerve disorders, which are linked to foot drop
• Muscle or nerve disorders: Forms of muscular dystrophy, a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness, can contribute to foot drop. Other disorders, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth, can too.
• Brain and spinal cord disorders: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis,, and other disorders that affect the spinal cord or brain can cause foot drop.

Our NJ foot drop specialists offer a wide range of foot drop treatment options. If the cause of foot drop is treated, the condition might improve or even disappear altogether. If the cause cannot be treated, foot drop may be permanent.

Treatment for foot drop may include:

• Braces or splints: A special brace on your ankle and foot or splint that fits into footwear can help hold your foot in a normal position.
• Physical therapy: Exercises that work to strengthen your leg muscles and assist you in maintaining the range of motion in your knee and ankle could improve gait problems associated with foot drop.
• Nerve stimulation: In certain cases, stimulating the nerve that lifts the problem foot improves foot drop.