Stopping Foot Drop -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, you may drag the front of your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop isn't a disease. Rather, foot drop is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem. Sometimes foot drop is temporary. In other cases, foot drop is permanent.

(SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

FOOT DROP SYMPTOMS: Foot drop makes it difficult to lift the front part of your foot, so it might drag on the floor when you walk. To counter this, you might raise your thigh when you walk, as if you were climbing stairs (steppage gait), to help your foot clear the floor. This odd gait might cause you to slap your foot down onto the floor with each step you take. In some cases, the skin on the top of your foot and toes may feel numb.

Foot drop typically affects only one foot. Depending on the underlying cause, however, it's possible for both feet to be affected. See a doctor if your toes drag on the floor when you walk.

(SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

PUTTING YOURSELF AT RISK: The peroneal nerve controls the muscles that lift your foot. This nerve runs near the surface of your skin on the side of your knee closest to your hand. Activities that compress this nerve can increase your risk of foot drop.

Examples include:

-Crossing your legs. People who habitually cross their legs can compress the peroneal nerve on their uppermost leg.

-Prolonged kneeling. Occupations that involve prolonged squatting or kneeling — such as picking strawberries or laying floor tile — can result in foot drop.

-Wearing a leg cast. Plaster casts that enclose the ankle and end just below the knee can exert pressure on the peroneal nerve.

(SOURCE: Mayo Clinic)

"ELECTRIFYING LEGS" WITH THE BIONESS: The Bioness comes in two models: The Bioness L300 Foot Drop System, which consists of a leg cuff and the L300 Plus, which includes a leg cuff and a thigh cuff. The system applies electrical stimulation in a precise sequence, which then activates the muscles and nerves to lift the foot and bend or extend the knee. The result is a more natural walking pattern (gait) combined with enhanced stability and confidence. The systems work wirelessly and are programmed by your clinician to work specifically for you.

The maker claims the Bioness systems:

-Assist with a more natural walking pattern (gait)

-Reeducate muscles

-Reduce muscle loss

-Maintain or improve range of motion

-Increase local blood circulation

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