What is foot drop?
Foot drop means the muscles that lift the front of the foot are too weak. The toes point down, so they drag or catch on the floor when the leg swings forward. Some people lift the knee higher or swing the leg out to the side to clear the foot.
After a stroke it comes from the brain’s signal to those muscles being weaker. It is not from laziness or from the foot being “lazy”. It is a movement problem that can be worked on.
Why does it matter in an Ipoh home?
A foot that catches is a fall waiting to happen. Terrace houses have more trip points than you expect.
- The raised sill at the door and at the bathroom entrance.
- Smooth tiles that turn slippery after rain or a bath.
- The step at the gate and the step at the porch.
- Loose mats, cables and the edge of a rug.
- Rubber slippers that slide off.
Your parent may also be afraid to walk because of it. Our guide to fear of falling explains why that fear is common and how to meet it.
What helps?
Three things work together: lifting the foot, strengthening the leg and practising walking.
A light ankle-foot orthosis, a plastic brace worn inside the shoe, holds the foot up during the swing. The hospital orthotic unit or your doctor can advise on getting one. A physiotherapist can check how your parent walks with and without it.
Exercise is the second part. Practice on ankle lifting, standing up from a chair and stepping over small obstacles trains the leg. Some clinics also use electrical stimulation to help the foot lift, which a physiotherapist can discuss.
Which shoes are best for indoors and out?
Most Ipoh homes remove shoes at the door, so plan for it. A closed, flat shoe with a firm back and a strap is safest. A sock with grip is better than bare feet on tiles.
Avoid flip-flops, loose slippers and thick soles that grab the floor. If a brace is used, buy shoes that fit over it, usually half a size bigger. Keep a pair by the door so the habit is easy.
Six exercises to ask a physiotherapist about
These are not a plan. They are a list of the kind of work a physiotherapist may set, depending on your parent’s strength.
- Sitting, lift the toes toward the shin, hold and lower.
- Sitting, trace the alphabet with the foot.
- Standing at a sturdy kitchen counter, rise onto the toes and lower slowly.
- Standing at the counter, step the weak leg forward and back.
- Step over a rolled towel on the floor with a helper beside you.
- Walk short distances with a rest, heel first on each step.
Stop and call the physiotherapist if there is pain, swelling or dizziness.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor promptly if the calf becomes swollen, hot or painful, if there is a fall with injury or if the foot suddenly feels weaker. Go to the emergency department for new weakness, trouble speaking or a drooping face.
How does home physiotherapy help?
We watch your parent walk in their own hallway, then check the doors, floor and stairs. We choose exercises that fit and show the family and the helper how to guard the walking safely. See walking again after stroke for the next steps.
Read more about stroke rehabilitation at home. Our Canning Garden centre, near Fatimah Hospital, is opening soon. Home and centre prices differ and are quoted on WhatsApp.