Foot drop


Foot drop, or dropped foot, is a symptom of multiple sclerosis caused by disruption in the nerve pathway between the legs and your brain. This disruption means it is difficult to lift the front of your foot to the correct angle during walking. As a result, your foot hangs down and may catch or drag along the ground and can cause you to trip or fall.

Foot drop can be successfully managed with some lifestyle modifications and treatments. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) uses small electrical charges to stimulate the foot into a more natural position for walking, or an ankle support (orthotic) can be used to hold the foot in a rigid position.

What is foot drop?

If you are experiencing foot drop, your foot may hang down, drag or catch on the ground when you are walking. This can make it more difficult to manage stairs, curbs and uneven surfaces, and make you more vulnerable to tripping and falling.

To compensate you might alter the way you walk to make sure you clear any obstacles. Most commonly this is done by lifting your leg higher, as if you were always climbing stairs, but this way of walking requires more effort and uses more energy. Your legs may tire quickly and you might feel wobbly, and you may notice more fatigue.

In time, this can lead to further problems such as pain in the hips or lower back, a tightening of muscles and poor balance.

What causes foot drop?

In MS, foot drop is caused by weakness in the ankle or disruption in the nerve pathway to and from the brain, rather than in the nerves within the leg muscles. This results in poor coordination in the leg and ankle affecting the way you walk.

If the coordination between the nerve messages and leg and ankle muscles is out of sync, the foot cannot be lifted to the correct angle at the right point when taking a step, so that the toes drag or catch along the floor or you slap your foot down.

Other MS symptoms can make foot drop worse. Numbness or other altered sensations in your feet may make it difficult to feel the floor. Muscle weakness or spasms in the leg muscles can make it more difficult to control your leg and a dropped foot.

How many people get foot drop?

Although foot drop is a commonly recognised symptom of MS, there are no statistics available to estimate how many people with MS are affected by it.

What can I do if I have foot drop?

If you are having trouble lifting the front part of your foot off the ground while walking you may have foot drop. It may make you self-conscious and might tire you out. If you are concerned about your walking, contact your MS nurse or neurologist, or ask your GP for a referral so you can be assessed.

How is foot drop treated?

Foot drop can be managed successfully through treatments and some lifestyle modifications, but it might take some time to find what works best for you.

Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist can advise on exercises to strengthen the foot and ankle muscles. They can also help treat any other symptoms that may be making your foot drop worse such as spasms or complications that may have arisen as a result, such as altered ways of walking (gait). As well as exercises they may provide equipment that can help correct the foot position, including functional electrical stimulation which is described in more detail below.

Ankle-foot orthosis

An ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), also known as a splint or brace, is a device usually made of plastic or carbon fibre that is worn on the lower leg. It holds the foot and ankle in the correct position during walking and fits close to the leg so it can be hidden under socks and trousers. If your health professional thinks one might be appropriate they can refer you to an orthotist, who is a specialist in measuring and prescribing orthoses.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES)

FES is a treatment that applies small electrical impulses directly to the nerves in the affected muscles to stimulate movement of your foot while walking. The device is worn on the leg or around the waist and is activated by a sensor worn in the shoe. An assessment by a physiotherapist trained in the use of FES is required to find out if the treatment will be suitable for you.

How can I manage foot drop myself?

There are some options you can try to help you reduce the risks of trips or falls if you have foot drop, which you can use in conjunction with one of the treatments.

Footwear

  • suitable and well fitting footwear can help support your foot and lessen the dragging along the floor
  • shoes with laces or with Velcro fastenings that can be adjusted, may be safer than slip-ons that can become loose with wear
  • boots can be helpful as they provide ankle support
  • avoid cumbersome or heavy shoes that quickly tire your muscles.

Awareness

  • be aware of your surroundings when moving about, concentrate and be ALERT: Assess your Location and Environment for the Risk of Trips
  • plan your movement, consider which route offers the least potential risk or fewest obstacles. If an obstacle does exist, can this be either safely moved or negotiated?

Remove hazards

  • a certain degree of clutter is an inevitable part of day to day life, but try to keep your main routes around the house free from obstacles
  • tape down or use non-slip mats under rugs particularly in the bathroom and bedroom, or consider removing them completely
  • with electrical items, try to keep wires and cables covered or taped down in walking areas to prevent them being tripped over. An extension lead can help to reroute cables away from places where they might be a tripping hazard.

Read more about how to reduce falls.

Find out more

References
Street T, et al.
Effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation on walking speed, functional walking category, and clinically meaningful changes for people with multiple sclerosis.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2015;96(4):667-672.
Summary (link is external)
Bulley C, et al.
Experiences of functional electrical stimulation (FES) and ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) for foot-drop in people with multiple sclerosis.
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology 2014 May 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Summary (link is external)
Barrett CL, et al.
A randomized trial to investigate the effects of functional electrical stimulation and therapeutic exercise on walking performance for people with multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis 2009;15(4):493-504.
Summary (link is external)
On this page