What happens if you don't treat foot drop?

Foot drop is a weakness of the muscles that lift the foot. This means that people with foot drop drag their toes on the ground, which can result in trips and falls. This can make simple things like walking upstairs, walking on uneven surfaces and road curbs very difficult. Leaving foot drop untreated increases the risk of having trips and falls and associated complications such as broken bones and loss of walking confidence.

Why Treating Foot Drop Matters?

While foot drop is a symptom, typically of neurological conditions, and cannot be cured, there are various treatments that can help in its management. By not treating foot drop (foot drop treatments), it can lead to a decrease in mobility, which can significantly impact quality of life. Leaving foot drop untreated can also lead to chronic pain. This is because there is a strain on the muscles and joints in the leg and ankle. Because the toes drag on the ground, people with foot drop have to pull up their knee and hip in order to lift the foot and enable it to clear the ground during the swing phase of gait. This compensatory movement is energy demanding and can lead to muscle fatigue and chronic pain. In the affected limb it is also common to see muscle weakness wastage.

In some cases, foot drop may be permanent, particularly if the nerve damage is severe. This means that the difficulties with walking can be an everyday challenge, and that can inevitably impact a person's overall activities of daily living. If left untreated, this can deteriorate overtime. There are treatments available to help to manage foot drop. Utilisation of walking aids, engaging in physical therapies and exercising at home can all help to manage foot drop. The experts at the Health Design Collective advocate the treatment of foot drop and recommend not leaving foot drop untreated. They have recently developed an innovative shoe for foot drop, which people with lived experience have found to be hugely beneficial in their daily activities. This shoe is now being tested as part of a research study, and the health Design Collective are looking for people who would like to get involved and test the shoe. If you would like to know more, use the Get Involved page.