Foot drop, which is also referred to as drop foot, is a medical term used to describe abnormal difficulties lifting the foot. This symptom can be caused by a number of factors, including nerve damage, muscular disorders or central nervous system diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, stroke, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Speak with your doctor immediately if you develop foot drop symptoms, as this condition is often indicative of a more severe medical condition.
Difficulty Lifting Your Foot
The primary symptom associated with foot drop is difficulty lifting the front portion of your foot. This symptom typically occurs due to damage or injury of the peroneal nerve, a spinal nerve within the lower portion of your back that controls foot movement. Such symptoms of foot drop can make it difficult for you to control your foot and may cause you to drag your foot along the floor when you attempt to walk normally. Foot drop normally affects only one foot but can lead to symptoms in both feet depending upon the cause of your symptoms. In certain people, this symptom is the only indication of foot drop, explain health professionals at the Mayo Clinic.
Difficulty Pointing Your Toes
If you have foot drop, you may be unable to point your toes toward your body--a normal reflex called dorsiflexion, explain Dr. Stewart Eidelson and Ms. Susan Spinasanta of Spine Universe, a website that provides information on spine-related medical conditions and treatments. Patients with foot drop may also find it difficult to bend the ankle normally. If this occurs, you may begin to abnormally slap your foot against the floor when you take a step to walk. You may also develop steppage gait (foot drop gait)--a condition in which you raise your thigh abnormally high when you walk, causing you to develop a high-stepping walk.
Pain, Weakness or Numbness
Foot drop can also cause additional sensory symptoms to develop in some people. You can experience mild to severe symptoms of aching or sharp pain within the affected foot. Such symptoms may also be accompanied by sensations of weakness or numbness within the affected foot. These symptoms can further contribute to walking difficulties.
