Foot drop

[Fayeboo]

Are there any exercises for foot drop that you know of - how about balance?

[mj23]

Go here http://physiotherapyexercises.com/web2/index.php

[05survivor]

Try using the dumbell medicine balls with the handle attatched to it. Place the handel over the top of your toes and try to lift the foot and then let it drop again. That is one rep. try to do 17-20 reps three times. Balance try starting with the exercise ball placed behind your back against the wall. Allow your body to go into the squat position with the ball still behind you once your thighs are parralell to the ground push back up with your legs. when that gets too easy try doing the same thing but with one leg extended and up as you allow just the other leg to hold you body weight as you go down. When that gets too easy try the bosu (it's a half ball attatched to a platform.) Put the platform side down fist and practice doing squats on the ball side. When that gets too easy flip it over and put the ball side down while standing on the flat platform side. When that is too easy do the same exercises with a 1lb medicine ball in front. Gradually go up in increments of 1 lbuntil you reach what you consider your peak added weight with the medicine ball. WHen those get too easy pm me and I'll tell you some more.

[1 Fine Spine RN]

I use a thera band tied around my foot that my PT or one of my kids holds while I am sitting. The idea would be to flex against resistance. You can also tie the band to something stable like a bed post or a hook on the wall. Thera bands are cheap and most PT's can give you one.

[daveh0]

Originally Posted by Fayeboo

Are there any exercises for foot drop that you know of - how about balance?

It's super-important to keep stretching as well. If you have full range in your ankle, you definitely want to keep it. Once those tendons start to get shorter and shorter, it will take more strength to move through the entire range. If you do have the strength to dorsi-flex your foot through the entire range, I would hit it hard and then give that achilles a good stretch right afterwards. If you can't move it through the entire range (either actively or passively), you should concentrate more on stretching before it gets any worse. Let me know if you need a good stretching routine.

[MajorHart]

Hello all: I am 69

I have peripheral neuropathy and drop foot in both feet.

I had a stroke in 1994 but had loose left foot before that - I also have been lifting weights all my life and in 1988 I had several strained or pulled muscles in my back - well before the drop foot but it could have damaged a disk or compressed a nerve.

Right now I do leg presses on my machine with 365 pounds, and walk on the treadmill with little problem. I have a minor balance problem but haven't fallen for over a year. I have one of those shin doriflexion machine where I put on a 5 pound weight and pull it up with my toes. It does seem to help.

Anytime how that I don't do this almost everyday - my toes drag and I have to watch carefully to avoid tripping. I had two close calls this last week.

Is there any exercise that might free that nerve if there is one trapped - or that might work better than pulling up my toes. If not for this I could still jog outside, which I would love to do again.

I've thought of buying some of those braces but had some rigid ones before that hurt my feet. Regular ankle braces (elastic) work some but I still trip occasionally.

I don't think the stroke was involved - I'm close to being a type 2 and have been for awhile but not a full diabetic.

Would weightloss and tighter blood sugar have any effect on this?

Thanks much for any help you can give.

MajorHart majorhart@sbcglobal.net

[heidigo]

daveh0 (or anyone for that matter) -
do you have a good stretching routine for the ankles and achilles?? I do some stretches for my sister, but both feet seem to be getting drop foot even worse, even those she wears the multi-podus(sp?) boots at night, gets her ankles stretched 2 x day and recently got botox injections to help relax them. Maybe we need to do different and more stretching of her ankles.

~ Heidi

[SCI-Nurse]

Standing in a standing frame with a wedge under the foot (large end at the toes) is an excellent way to help reduce plantarflexion contractures (so-called drop foot). We recommend this daily.

(KLD)

[Fayeboo]

Dave, I would be interested in a good stretching routine.

Originally Posted by daveh0

It's super-important to keep stretching as well. If you have full range in your ankle, you definitely want to keep it. Once those tendons start to get shorter and shorter, it will take more strength to move through the entire range. If you do have the strength to dorsi-flex your foot through the entire range, I would hit it hard and then give that achilles a good stretch right afterwards. If you can't move it through the entire range (either actively or passively), you should concentrate more on stretching before it gets any worse. Let me know if you need a good stretching routine.

[znop]

I am a c-7 walking quad post 15 years with serious foot drop only on my right foot. After hundreds(yes hundreds) of falls I finally had major leg surgery to shorten my leg just enough so I don' trip as often. I have a huge rod from my hip to my knee in the middle of the bone. Incredible huh . I don't trip nearly as often and happy with the results. Of course this was a last resort to the dreaded drop foot.
good luck and hope you all find something that works for you