Drop foot and Steppage gait are also know as Foot Drop are all used to describe the abnormal neuomuscular disorders that prevent the affected person to be able to raise their foot at the ankle. This neuromuscular impairment prevents dorsiflexion and may be accompanied by pain or numbeness in the area. While walking the foot may appear floppy and the patient may drag the feet and toes while walking. Affected people may display a modified walk that is reffered to steppage gait. Easy Gait ™ Brace helps by replacing part of the function of the anterior tibialis muscles to improve gait and function.

 

Drop Foot/Foot Drop: A Symptom 
Drop foot is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying problem. Depending on the cause, drop foot may be temporary or permanent. Often drop foot is caused by injury to the peroneal nerve deep within the lumbar and sacral spine. The peroneal nerve is a division of the sciatic nerve. The peroneal nerve runs along the outside of the lower leg (below the knee) and branches off into each ankle, foot, and first two toes. It innervates or transmits signals to muscle groups responsible for ankle, foot, and toe movement and sensation.

 

Peroneal Nerve: Causes of Injury 
The peroneal nerve is susceptible to different types of injury. Some of these include nerve compression from lumbar disc herniation, trauma to the sciatic nerve, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, spinal cord injury, bone fractures (leg, vertebrae), stroke, tumor, diabetes, lacerations, gunshot wounds, or crush-type injuries. Drop foot is found in some patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's Disease. Sometimes the peroneal nerve becomes injured when stretched during hip or knee replacement surgery.