Can foot drop be reversed?

[pararich]

I pretty much gave up range of motion exercises at least a year ago.
My feet have dropped and come off the footrest a lot.
I have the boots I used in rehab, but they are too big.
Can foot drop be corrected by resuming range of motion exercises?
Also, since the boots are too big, should I throw them away or do you think someone could use them?
Are there any serious complications of foot drop?

[woody]

sometimes u may need shots to the ankle... i forget what there called
try standing... tanding frame,,

[rollin64]

Originally Posted by woody

sometimes u may need shots to the ankle... i forget what there called
try standing... tanding frame,,

botox maybe???????????

my feet come off the footrests too if i'm barefoot.

[thehipcrip]

Can foot drop be corrected by resuming range of motion exercises?

.

Possibly, but I'm pretty skeptical about it.

Tendon length can easily be maintained through stretching and ROM, but from what I know it's all but impossible to get tendons to lengthen through stretching alone. Maybe that's changed now that botox is around.

In the past, before botox, by the time you'd reached the foot drop stage, you pretty much needed orthotics or surgery to correct it.

[pararich]

I also wonder how far along my foot drop is.
I have nothing to compare it to.
Sounds like a standing frame and injections could help.
Is the main problem with foot drop that one's feet fall off the footrests?

[gurly2356]

I've always been a little confused on what foot drop is exactly...whats it look like? How do u know if you have it?

[lynnifer]

Foot drop might also change the pressure of where your feet sit ... so what if you developed wounds? Hate to be the barer of bad news ... but just pondering?

I just started wearing some multi-podus boots. While I'm sure they won't reverse the hip rotation I believe I have, they might help stop it from getting worse, especially in bed.

So I'd take steps to make sure your foot drop doesn't get worse.

Never stop stretching!

[SCI-Nurse]

Before you go standing or doing ROM, I would get it checked out with your SCI doc. If you haven't done either one for the last year or so, it is possible to cause some damage.

Foot drop occurs because the tendons in the foot lengthen (from gravity). While it doesn't sound like a big deal, it can change your pressure when sitting and also can lead to pressure ulcers on your feet since they tend to not stay where you put them.
THe best way to handle it is to prevent it. ROM (range of motion), standing and wearing shoes are all helpful.
Just be careful.
CKF
CKF

[Le Type Français]

Yes, I was born with club feet, and as a child I had surgeries to cut and stretch the tendons to allow me to walk more comfortably.

[SCI-Nurse]

Whether a drop foot contracture can be corrected with just stretching and/or injections or surgery will be needed depends on how long the contracture has been there. If it has become fully calcified, and fixed, then it is very unlikely that stretching can correct it. If it is still only soft tissue changes, then stretching, done very aggressively and frequently, may be sufficient.

Prevention of course is always best, which is why ROM needs to be done daily forever, and one of the reasons why proper foot positioning (including the use of shoes) and standing daily are so important.

(KLD)