Foot drop is a muscular weakness or paralysis that makes it difficult to lift the front part of your foot and toes. It's also sometimes called drop foot. It can cause you to drag your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop is a sign of an underlying problem rather than a condition itself. This could be muscular, caused by nerve damage in the leg, or the result of a brain or spinal injury. Foot drop usually only affects 1 foot, but both feet may be affected depending on the cause. It can be temporary or permanent.

What causes foot drop? Foot drop is the result of weakness or paralysis of the muscles that lift the front part of your foot. This can be caused by a number of underlying problems. Peripheral nerve problems or neuropathy Foot drop is often caused by squashing (compression) of the nerve that controls the muscles that lift the foot. Sometimes nerves around the knee or lower spine can become trapped. The nerves in the leg can also be injured or damaged during hip replacement or knee replacement surgery. Foot drop can sometimes be caused by nerve damage linked to diabetes, known as a neuropathy. Inherited conditions that cause peripheral nerve damage and muscle weakness, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, can also sometimes lead to foot drop. Muscle weakness Muscular dystrophy is a group of inherited genetic conditions that cause gradual muscle weakness and can sometimes lead to foot drop. Foot drop can also be caused by other muscle wasting conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy or motor neurone disease. Brain and spinal cord disorders Foot drop can also be caused by conditions that affect the brain or spinal cord, such as: stroke

cerebral palsy

multiple sclerosis

Diagnosing foot drop Foot drop is often diagnosed during a physical examination. Your GP will look at the way you walk and examine your leg muscles. In some cases, imaging tests, such as an X-ray, ultrasound scan or CT scan, may be required. Nerve conduction tests may be recommended to help locate where the affected nerve is damaged. Electromyography, where electrodes are inserted into the muscle fibres to record their electrical activity, may also be carried out at the same time.