What Is Drop Foot

What is drop foot is a common query that we come across from people who do not know much about this disabling condition. Drop foot is also commonly known in many countries as foot drop. This is a problem that occurs when the lateral popliteal nerve gets damaged. The muscles that are supplied by this nerve will also stop functioning because the muscles are provided the necessary action by the nerve.

As far as the lateral popliteal nerve is concerned, it causes the Tibialis anterior to function. When the nerve is damaged or even when the muscle is damaged, it can cause the drop foot to occur. So, what is drop foot really? It is a deformity that occurs in the person. It can lead to unstable walking and can even lead to falls in some people, especially the elderly.

Though you may know what is drop foot, you should also know what to do to correct the problem. The main problem that is present is that the muscle stops working. This can lead to inability of the person to lift the foot up. So, the foot hangs down even while walking and to clear the ground, a person affected by drop foot will need to lift the foot to an abnormal height. This causes a gait pattern that is not nice.

To overcome these problems, the drop foot treatment should start as soon as possible. The early stages after a nerve injury are crucial to cure the condition. If there is a delay in the treatment, then the deformity can become permanent. Then, the only option would be to perform reconstructive surgery, also known as Tendon transfer surgery to correct the Drop foot deformity. So, though there are many answers to the question what is drop foot, the usual answer is that it is a deformity that causes a variation in the gait or walking pattern of the person.