HealthCare Journey for Multiple Sclerosis
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey

Foot Drop and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

4/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Have you noticed that you tend to catch your toe on occasion while walking? This can be the start of foot drop, a condition caused by weakness in the muscles of the lower leg.  It may start off slow where the toe catch occurs only after fatigue or prolonged walking.  It can progress to you being unable to lift your foot throughout the gait cycle. 

Foot drop is a contributing factor to the risk of falls and is therefore important to address as soon as possible.  There is a greater risk of falls when walking on area rugs, uneven surfaces (such as grass), and uneven pavements.  Foot drop also contributes to increased energy expenditure with walking. 

The goal of foot drop management is to support the foot without over-bracing.  If the leg is fully supported with a brace, secondary weakness develops due to muscle inactivity.  Speak with your physical therapist and/or orthotist to determine which option is best for you. 

Below are some of the possibilities. They are listed from minimal to maximal support.  Your therapist and orthotist try to find the brace that offers the least constraint while offering optimal control of the foot, ankle, and knee throughout the gait cycle which is dependent our your symptoms.

1)    Functional Electrical Stimulation Foot Orthosis

Bioness L300 
http://www.bioness.com/L300_for_Foot_Drop.php

Walk-Aide
http://www.walkaide.com/en-US/Pages/default.aspx

2)    Dorsiflexion strap  –

Foot-up without a shoe
http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=getProduct&key=IF_146868

Foot-up with a shoe http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=getProduct&key=IF_921015567

Freedom Adjustable Foot Drop Brace http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=getProduct&key=IF_88283

3)  AFOs (Ankle Foot Orthoses) – these braces range from light to maximal support and can be made from metal and plastic.  They can be issued off-the-shelf or customized to your foot.

Posterior Leaf Spring
http://www.pattersonmedical.com/app.aspx?cmd=getProduct&key=IF_921026824
Picture
Articulated AFO
Picture
Solid Ankle AFO
A bit about Julie...Julie Hom, MPT, NCS is a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and balance and fall prevention.  She is a Neurologic Certified Specialist (NCS) through the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) which is a certification confirming higher skills and knowledge with respect to neurological disorders. Click here to read more about Julie...http://www.healthcarejourney.com/read-about-our-virtual-ms-center-staff.html

Note:  the information that is being provided is for "Advice Only" for individuals in California.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    PT Bloggers

    Sarah Frank PT, DPT, MSCS

    Picture
    Julie Hom, MPT, NCS
    Picture

    Archives

    January 2015
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Balance
    Equipment
    Exercise
    Finding A Physical Therapist
    Foot Drop


© 2020 HealthCare Journey, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
HealthCare Journey™ is a trademark of HealthCare Journey, LLC
Picture
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Virtual MS Center
    • Q & A for Virtual MS Center
    • Read About Our Virtual MS Center Staff
  • News & Resources
  • Health & Wellness
  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
      • Healthcare Provider Blog
    • Physical Therapy Blog
    • Patient Blog
    • Caregiver Blog
    • Research Blogs >
      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
    • What is MS?
    • Diagnosis
    • Treatment
    • MS Tips
  • Symptoms
    • Balance and Walking Issues
    • Breathing/Respiratory
    • Bowel Dysfunction
    • Cognitive Dysfunction
    • Crying/Laughing Uncontrollably (PBA)
    • Depression and Anxiety
    • Dizziness/Vertigo
    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
    • Pain
    • Sexual Dysfunction
    • Sleep Issues
    • Spasticity/Spasms/Cramps
    • Speech/Swallowing
    • Urination/Bowel Problems
    • Vision
  • MS Clinics
  • MS Topics
    • Pregnancy and Infertility
    • Caregivers and Family Members
    • Employment and MS
    • Medical Costs and Insurance
    • Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis
  • Register With Us
  • Terms of Use/Privacy/HIPAA
  • MS HealthCare Journey