Foot Drop Devices Explained by Neurologist

A brief explanation of "foot drop" (anterior tibialis weakness causing the toes to drop down, affecting gait) and devices which could help with walking.
Selected Sources:
Video of 65 year old man with right foot drop: • Right Foot Drop in Amb...
Video of a man who developed left foot droop after falling asleep in a specific position which injury the left lateral proximal leg in the area of the common peroneal nerve: • Foot Drop and Peroneal... ]
Functional electrical stimulation for foot drop: • Electrode Placement fo...
Video of bioness device: • L300 Go Patient First ...
Before After video of foot drop due to multiple sclerosis improving with WalkAide: • WalkAide System Commer...
Before after comparison of Dynamic Walk AFO in someone with left foot drop: • Dynamic Walk AFO Side-...
Information on different types of ankle foot orthoses: www.physio-pedia.com/Foundati....
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Dr. Brandon Beaber is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis and other immunological diseases of the nervous system. He is a partner in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and practices in Downey, California (South Los Angeles). He has several publications on MS epidemiology and has participated in clinical trials for MS therapeutics. You can follow him on twitter @Brandon_Beaber where he regularly posts about MS news and research.
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he video material by Dr. Brandon Beaber is general educational material on health conditions and is not intended to be used by viewers to diagnose or treat any individual's medical condition. Specifically, this material is not a substitute for individualized diagnostic and treatment advice by a qualified medical/health practitioner, licensed in your jurisdiction, who has access to the relevant information available from diagnostic testing, medical interviews, and a physical examination. To the extent that Dr. Beaber endorses any lifestyle change, behavioral intervention, or supplements, the viewer should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention in light of their individualized information.

[@cherylvl1036]

Foot drop was the first MS symptom that sent me to my doctor before I was diagnosed. I did have other symptoms before foot drop but I explained them away as just a part of getting older and having 3 kids. I got bilateral ankle/foot orthosis 3 years after diagnosis. Unfortunately they were so heavy and cumbersome I couldn’t use them. They were expensive, $1300 each and a waste of money. My MS progressed quickly and my legs have been the most affected.

[@elizabethmurphy3931]

My son, who has severe foot drop in both feet due to a catastrophic case of transverse myelitis, has been using the SAFO for many years. The SAFO is a Silicone AFO. It has helped him avoid repeated foot infections from the hard plastic type of AFO, and has helped to keep his achilles tendon from shrinking. They are not covered by most insurance, and are expensive, but he has had wonderful success with them for 15 years.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Thanks for sharing Elizabeth.

[@raeleneburke3794]

I have transverse myelitis with brown sequard syndrome (22year old) looking for something to help as I have terrible foot drop!!

[@MrMikk532]

Great video. Thanks for the review of different devices. I got diagnosed this year and with the diagnosis, realized that me occasionally tripping on flat surfaces sincle highschool wasnt just a small thing that made me "quirky". Always described myself as an athletic clutz.

[@richardlynch9247]

I am a TBI survivor, at age 15 (I am now 65) and have left foot drop and permanent left arm bicep contraction. I have used multiple AFOs. These devices worked well for me to prevent the foot drop, but they also resulted in noticeable atrophy of my calf, and very uncomfortable. I got a WalkAide about 15 years ago and it has been a total game changer for me. For me, it is great! I can walk without tripping, AND my shoe doesn't wear out in less than 6 months!! I wish the WalkAide II was available in the USA.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Thanks for sharing.

[@sreenivaskampala]

Hi, I was impacted with GBS 8 years ago & still having foot drop in my left leg. I am not sure what is this "WalkAide" is, could you please share the relevant link here to explore more on that? BTW I am an Indian & live in India

[@stantonroyce9377]

Had a walkaide roughly 10 to 12 years ago. It worked well for about 3 years and then didn't function properly. Insurance change, no longer pay for it. I did not have the cash to repair. It's sitting in a box, but it worked beautifully. my muscles were strengthening against three foot drop even without the walkaide. Could not use all day. Would get contact dermatitis from electrode pads & have to stop using for 3 weeks for that to fully heal.

[@cherylnavarrete4198]

Loved seeing different options! My foot drop is minor so I no longer wear my uncomfortable AFOs❤

[@topcat1tanks]

I don't know if you have made any videos on hyper extention of the knee, but it was this issue that finally got a MS diagnosis for my wife.

[@ernietollar7767]

2:31 for clarity 'left side' is RIGHT side of OUR SCREEN. Very interesting video. this video makes me wonder if MS patients sometimes ALSO have O.A. related peripheral neuropathy. I question whether I have both.. I am 58 , and in my unprofessional way on saw minor constriction . I understand that the nerve is about 9mm avg and the tube starts of at about 14mm avg but can get crowded due to bone formation. Dr Beaber, your excellent precision and 'let's have some fun' attitude makes you very helpful. Possibly more physio therapy orientation occasionally in videos would be wonderful. Time for you to get the track pants out and get physical :) In my case I'm still able to walk a couple of subway stops and play the saxophone professionally (for now). I do short bit on an eliptical trainer and should start using my stretchy orange theraband to limber up my thighs and calves before I hobble to the kitchen in the mornings .

[@MadMax2022]

Would a secice help with lifting my foot when trying to get up a step ? Sometimes its ss if my foot is glued to the floor only happens when im in a hurry to get somewhere

[@dleufven6308]

The walk aide works well and works better for me than the bioness model I tried. It has come down from the original price because insurance generally does not cover it. Future video suggestions are BTK inhibitors and the differences of the CD 20, 19, and 3 meds recently approved or researched, and the remyelination drugs that don’t seem to make it very far. Thanks

[@Spectre2434]

Will this help if foot drop comes from L5 - S1 lesion

[@brainstorm-wx8yn]

Great video, are there devices for calf weakness, due to nerve injury, to help with heel raise when walking?

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

There are some articles on this topic but I have not seen such devices: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451173/#CD014871-bbs2-0020

[@Alex-bd4ov]

Hi. Doctor, please make a video on Brown Sequard Syndrome (T4). And please take about the inability to maintain knee function on the right leg, because in my situation my knee hyperextends, because of this I can't work independently and if I can recover. Also the foot drop, my right foot (toes) also wants to coil inward like clinching a fist and because of this, my foot catches the floor even with a Hard plastic ankle foot orthosis. And sensation.

[@Selial]

I received accupunture with electricity that greatly strengthened my legs and the strength lasted for a week so I only needed accupture once a week. But when I moved and tried accupture in 4 other clinics my strength after the sessions lasted less than 1 hour. ➡➡➡➡➡➡ So, has anyone else tried accupunture and did it make you strong for a week ❓❓

[@YaramasuVenkateswarlu]

I am suffering with right leg foot drop which is best devise for assistence

[@AndiPandiBee]

I have an thick plastic afo for my left foot as there's weakness in it that means I can't lift against gravity when walking. But when sitting I can pull my foot up, after I push it down a few times when I try to pull up eventually my brain sends the right signal. I find it quite amusing that my brain/foot just don't communicate right any more.

[@mrehak554]

Years ago when I was still walking, I was fitted with one of these devices. The set up configurations take some time but I remember it did kick my feet upwards but it did not help the hips, which was causing me to swing my legs up stairs for example. Had I not progressed, it would have been more useful but like I said I needed more support from my hips

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

It very much depends on someone's specific gait mechanics.

[@lauraduncan418]

I have MS tried the AFO, too rigid!! Tried the bioness unit loved it totally unaffordable!! Now use the little one you showed around my ankle! I am on my like third one and use my own velcro straps they hold better but it is the best and most affordable!!

[@Jerusalem_Warrior]

Do you have a video about Jumpy or Restless Leg Syndrome? Since my leg started getting a life of it's own, I can't get any sleep at night! 😝

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Not yet but thanks for the suggestion.

[@desiredecove5815]

Good video and very informative- #Sharingiscaring #MavencladMilf

[@elainegoddard1171]

I have left foot drop from a stroke. I have been using the bioness L300 for about 3 years. It really works well for me and I love the freedom it provides. However, when I am fatigued or highly stressed my muscles just stop responding to the electrical stimulation. I am looking for something besides the hard plastic to use at these times. Thanks for the informative video.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Thanks for sharing

[@s13rr4buf3]

Any advice on what I can do to help my elderly father who has contracture in his right hand?

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

You may like this video on spasticity: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gImalmynoq6Bhdk Botox injections are an option. If severe, contractures can become an orthopaedic problem.

[@s13rr4buf3]

@@DrBrandonBeaber Thank you very much!

[@andrewreisinger6860]

Tried the bioness at the VA. Decided against it. I have MS with right-sided weakness, and my foot drop can vary wildly from day to day, even intra-day. It's incredibly frustrating.

[@dianefresca6896]

I have the same thing as you feeling like the only one.

[@spark_6710]

A very good video to watch !! 👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Thanks

[@spark_6710]

@@DrBrandonBeaber You're very welcome & thank YOU !! 🙏 I subbed to your channel immediately for my mom ! 👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[@fullspine1]

Nothing new. Used all of these 20 years ago.. I wonder if they improved the walk.aid.

[@sandygarza5484]

Will it help me I had weak legs had polio

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

possibly if you have foot drop

[@SarahFunes]

AFOs also don't allow you to wear shoes you want to wear.Which for me was the reason I got a Walkaide. Foot drop is common in brain tumors as well as strokes and traumatic brain injury. Walkaide I could never get covered nor the Bioness L300.which is bs. My latest attempt resulted in my insurance saying that because of my diagnosis of a brain tumor it wasn't proven through clinical trials to be beneficial. Keep in mind I have been using a Walkaide since 2009.

[@injoy5583]

Machine foot drop i want

[@hotpastrami]

Been using FES Devices for over 10 years and have tested nearly all that are out there. I’ve understood that approximately 50% work for the patients testing them. The others don’t respond or can’t deal with the electrical currents. The devices meanwhile range from simple 2 channel stimulation of the perineum nerves under the knees to multiple channels that stimulate quadriceps and ishiocrural muscles creating a better physiological movement. Key challenge for FES is the impulse trigger. Some patients can’t steer their legs sufficiently to make devices react correctly and and to have to rely on foot sensors. Next stop after FES would be Exoskeleton for those with even less lower limb capabilities. There’s arguably a fitting solution for everyone nowadays.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I am certainly interested to see the trajectory of exoskeleton technology

[@babettedeniseferrando3967]

Plastic didn't work for me

[@jackbaker3615]

3ft bungee cord. One end hooked to belt. Other end hooked to front shoe lace. Add knots to adjust length. Cost $2.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Did it work for you?

[@jackbaker3615]

@@DrBrandonBeaber absolutely. No one can tell I have foot drop.

[@jackbaker3615]

Also. My foot drop is total. Cannot dorso flex at all.

[@samkitty5894]

If one can pinch this nerve in his sleep, or simply crossing legs, why is it so hard to free it? This makes no sense at all.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

I'm not sure what you mean.

[@Skipbo000]

how bout a cure? and if there is in fact no cure why are there so many videos on "exercises for foot drop"??

[@euenfheiejrj]

There’s a physical therapist online named Gretchen Hawley

[@babettedeniseferrando3967]

I have foot drop.

[@DrBrandonBeaber]

Did any of these devices help you?