The effects of foot drop will vary depending on the severity of the damage and the influence of other factors such as muscle tightness or spasticity. Commonly the effects of foot drop include:
- Difficulty lifting the foot when walking resulting in compensations such as lifting the knee higher to allow the foot to clear the floor
- Reduced balance reactions
- Increased risk of falls
- Ankle instability
- Tightness in the calf muscle
- Increased fatigue when walking due to greater effort needed to walk
- Muscle atrophy (wastage) in the leg
Your physiotherapist will carry out a thorough assessment of the effects of your foot drop and will consider the influence of other areas in order to give a holistic approach to treatment. It is rare for the foot to be treated in isolation and your physiotherapist is likely to assess muscle activity in your whole body to establish other problem areas.
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