A Look At Three Important Types Of Solutions To Solve Your Foot Drop Problems
Foot Drop is a permanent muscular or anatomical problem. When suffering from this problem, you find it hard to lift your foot from the ankle joint. Many people suffering from this problem tend to drag their foot when walking. With the advancements in technology today, there are many foot drop treatment options and each of the treatment will depend on the cause of illness. Some of them include:
Foot Drop braces (Orthoses)
This is a treatment whereby an ankle foot Orthosis is used to aid in walking. It is a brace that is used to help keep the affected foot off the ground when walking. This helps patients to have an upright posture. Foot Drop braces are the preferred choice of treatment by many people suffering from a Foot Drop problem as it enables the patient to gain stability of the foot and ankle. The braces help to keep the ankle at an angle in which the foot is prevented from dropping to the ground. A brace makes walking easier for a patient and also helps them to avoid tripping due to the shorter foot.
Physical therapy
Physical treatment and exercises may be used in situations where the Foot Drop has resulted to gait disturbance and affected the foot muscles. Today, there are special therapies designed specifically for people suffering from a foot drop problem. A gait training program includes special mechanisms and exercises that can be used to teach the patient how to walk again.
Non-surgical Foot Drop treatments
Non surgical treatments can be used in situations where the lower back is the major cause of the dropped foot. Some of lower back conditions that may require you to have a non surgical treatment include:
Herniated disc – When a herniated disk or bulging causes the foot drop, a nonsurgical treatment such as fluoroscopically, guided epidural steroid injections and physical therapy are used as they may be appropriate.
Spinal stenosis – Spinal stenoisis patients can use special exercise programs developed by physical therapists, activity modification, anti inflammatory modifications and epidural injections.
Spondylolithesis – This condition requires the use of special programs prescribed by a physical therapist. Spinal fusion surgery can also be used to reduce pain and treat the condition.
Vertebral Fractures – For patients with vertebral fractures, pain medication, brace support or progressive activity, should be used. Minimal invasive procedures such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty can be used.
Susan Johnson says
I didn’t realize I had foot drop, until I connected my increase in back pain caused me to trip “up” the stairs… my right foot would always catch one of the stairs and I’d wrack my shin on the step, or get lucky and catch myself. Physical therapy was the treatment I chose, and it really did work, both for my back, and the resulting foot drop.
Wendy Mastin says
Thank you so much for this article. My foot / ankle is starting to bother me and I have an appt. with a foot doctor.
Giveaway Gal says
I have alot of problems with my feet. Thanks for sharing
Leanne Husnik says
My Mom has really bad bunions that hurt her so much. I really wish she could get them removed before her foot is permanently disfigured.
susan rumble says
thanks for the info, i will ask my Doctor about this, this might be why i have such problems w/ my feet.
Colleen says
Great Susan, hope its an easy cure for what ever is your foot problem.
Tammy S says
Thanks for the post. I have never heard of this problem before. It’s nice that you don’t just have to jump into surgery to fix this problem.
Julie Wood says
I have not heard of this condition. But it is nice to know that a person can get treatment for it! Physical therapy can really help this condition and if I had it this is what I would try first!
Wendy T says
I recently had a knee problem that caused my gait to be changed. In turn, that caused pain in my foot. I feel for anyone with foot pain, because you just can’t escape it. With every step, you’re reminded of the pain.
Colleen says
I have bunions and I wish there was a magic cure!