Headline: Getting a Leg Up on Foot DropBy: Don Goertzen, CP, LPO

Most people take for granted their ability to go about everyday activities unhindered by physical challenges. However, a significant number of men and women of all ages suffer from an uncommon walking disorder called foot drop.

Subhead: Foot drop definedFoot drop is a condition that affects a person’s ability to raise the foot at the ankle, impairing the mere act of taking steps. It is caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot, which causes the person to drag the toe of the shoe on the ground or slap the foot to the floor.

Foot drop, also known as drop foot, centers around the peroneal nerve. Located along the outside of the lower leg just below the knee, the peroneal nerve controls the muscles responsible for lifting the foot in the correct direction at the appropriate time during walking. When this nerve is damaged or interrupted due to conditions such as an incomplete spinal chord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or stroke, the muscles of the lower leg cannot flex the foot, causing the foot to flop or droop.

Subhead: Giving the foot a liftOne of the newest and most innovative treatments for foot drop being used with great success is nerve stimulation. One such device is WalkAide®, which is FDA-approved and is designed to recreate the natural nerve-to-muscle response and reestablish communication between muscles and nerves. It employs Myo-Orthotics Technology™, which merges traditional orthotics with electrical stimulation. The device analyzes the movement of the leg and foot, then sends electrical signals to the peroneal nerve. These gentle impulses activate the muscles to raise the foot at the appropriate time during the step cycle, creating a natural walking pattern.

Small and discreet, the device consists of a battery-operated, single-channel electrical stimulator, two electrodes and electrode leads. It’s compact and easy to use, and applied directly to the leg just below the knee. A cuff holds the system comfortable in place, and it can be worn under most clothing.

Subhead: Added benefitsPatients who benefit from nerve stimulation report being able to walk faster and longer distances with less fatigue. The improvement in their walking ability is immediate and substantial. In addition to helping sufferers of foot drop walk, nerve stimulation may also improve circulation, reduce atrophy, improve voluntary control and increase joint range of motion.

It is important to note that this treatment is not beneficial for patients who have

suffered secondary complications of back, hip or knee surgery, traumatic accidents to the leg, sciatica, spinal stenosis, post-polio syndrome or Guillain-Barre. It is also not recommended for people with pacemakers, or who suffer from seizures.

Other treatments for foot drop include braces or splints, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery. But nerve stimulation appears to be in the forefront of helping patients with this condition maximize their mobility and independence.

Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics has offices in Bloomington, Peoria and Peru. For more information, contact Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics at 309-676-2276 or e-mail info@cpousa.com.