Foot drop anatomy

Foot drop describes a difficulty in lifting the toes towards the shin, causing problems walking. The toes on that foot drag across the ground or the foot must be lifted higher in a different way. This is usually a problem of the common fibular nerve, a part of the sciatic nerve. Let's have a look at the anatomy involved so that we can better understand what might be going on here.
I think I might have overdone it with the green.
Music by Jahzzar
Album: HiFi City Tales
Song: Bodies
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[@georgialandau9843]

As a nurse, I really appreciated this video.

[@jiraiyasama8027]

the explanation of various gaits was icing on the cake . Amazing explanation as always sir .

[@thomasslaughter7766]

A hematoma was created during a bone marrow biopsy causing me to have drop foot and severe neuropathy. This video helps to understand the location of nerves and muscle relationships. Well done.

[@meenakothari7841]

Best explanation on the net of footdrop. Saw so many videos but this is simply the best .Thankyou Sir .

[@aldente3868]

Such an excellent explanation of foot drop. You sir are a singularly great teacher. Have a lovely vacation sir.

[@mariavictoriamerca7991]

Thank you for your very informative and helpful anatomy videos. Honestly, I passed the ACE personal trainer exam because I watched your videos repeatedly. I was able to understand and imagine the origins, insertions, and actions of different muscle groups.

[@stephaniejohnson7519]

Been experiencing foot drop for about a year now. This was a perfect explanation to what I am experiencing. Definitely helps me understand my situation a lot better. Thank you!

[@deborahmartin7188]

As a student remedial massage therapist you have just gone through everything I need to know. Gait is important for us to detect problems. I also am glad you use all the terminology that I have trouble remembering. This video is perfect for my studies. I have learnt heaps from your other videos and watch them more than once.

[@justmarialing]

Dealing with stroke drop foot. Use AFOs, tried FES and now get Botox. Happy - a brilliant explanation and visual rep it's helped me understand whats (not) going on in my leg/foot and the muscles they are targetting with the Botox. Thank you.

[@kevinstahl7073]

In less than 11 minutes, you delivered a more concise and illustrative explanation of foot drop, the anatomy of dorsiflexion, and the compensations most commonly associated with it than I received in several hours of class about gross anatomy and neurological conditions. Thank you!

[@Drsowon]

I came across your video while revising for a specialty examinations! Your passion and love for anatomy really comes through, thank you for the inspiring energy!

[@jw9609]

I've had foot drop for over 4 months now with not even the slightest improvement and of all the videos and text I've read , this video has been the most informative !! Your explanation totally matches my symptoms. I'm convinced my issue is getting worse but after watching this it is obvious that it is my calf muscle making my foot more floppy and not necessarily the nerve becoming worse. I also have to walk by using my back and hip to swing the leg up which in turn gives me back ache every day. I also now have muscle wastage and have lost over 6kg in weight which is a lot as I only weighed 73kg to start with. Thank you for such a great video.

[@jw9609]

@@rationalman9333 Hi, unfortunately it turned out to be motor neurone disease! Health a lot worse now. Thank you

[@ChloeBrown]

This was the most helpful and informative video I’ve watched on foot drop. It’s the most annoying thing I have experienced and pretty painful. Nerves are crazy! Mine was caused by a bulging disc and bone spurs.

[@user-qv8mm5bm3z]

Best anatomy videos online. Thanks for your enthusiasm!

[@s_w6275]

Perfect explanation! (As always) Thank you for this valueable info😀✌🏽

[@bobc5151]

Just a thank you for doing this video. THANK YOU.

[@adampt4454]

brilliant video. thank you

[@sagarikaray7638]

I don’t comment on videos at all but I had to let you know how thoroughly I enjoyed this lecture. Thank you!❤️

[@odgykins]

Ten years ago, I woke up to my foot not working. I went to walk in my flip flops and I didn’t what was wrong but I knew my foot was acting funny. My mom took me to a sports doctor and he quickly determined I had drop foot and described it as a “common soccer injury” and asked if I played sports. I never played a single sport in my life lol. I still to this day do not know what caused this injury. I went through months of physical therapy, had to do an EMG (0/10 would not recommend), had to wear an AFO for years and now, ten years later, my foot still isn’t the same. I would say it’s about 90% better but I’ll never gain full range of motion back and my joint gets exhausted quickly due to the lack of strength. Basically, the injury will always be with me but because I had an amazing physical therapist, I was able to heal quickly and efficiently with little after affects.

[@jonmac380]

What got you back? PT? My daughter has had it for years. Needs help.

[@niciv.n.8747]

​..... Mine was after low back operation and a hsrd fall. I was sent to warm pool exercises, where phisio's were. Also had few exercises to do at home, even if some was impossible... But had to think in my head, I'm doing it. Also people of our church, came to pray for me, my family and myself, prayed daily to God through Jesus Christ.I'm not 100%,but about 80+better. For the pain of the severe damage of my nerve, I use Lyrica capsules. Epleptin also helps with nerve pain. May she also gets this better🛐🛐🛐🛐🛐🙌🙌🙌

[@meenakothari7841]

Do UV radiation therapy at home by yourself. Helps to regenerate damaged nerves faster.

[@blessenbabu4801]

​@@jonmac380 iam studying physiotherapy course

[@spark_6710]

Flip flops are the worst shoes you can wear for your feet !! I had hurt my feet wearing 'em outside all day long ,too !! I knew they weren't good for long wears ! But,being living in Cali ,everyone else almost wore 'em everywhere back then in 80's & that influenced me ! 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[@arthurpeden6421]

As someone who suffers from a damaged sciatic nerve, the result of failed back surgery, the complications of foot drop and the resulting effects such as curvature of the spine, hip rotation et.al, and having spent years trying counter its effects, this is the best explanation of its cause and effect I have heard. Thank you

[@MohamedTarek-hd5gg]

Can you tell me how are you dealing with it tn

[@michaelkessler9467]

I've just stumbled across your video. Now that I've found you, I'll be a regular viewer. Happy to have subscribed

[@jellypatts6444]

Thank you for the video. Especially the gait stuff , you made me laugh at myself, while also educating me.

[@masgon8699]

I am not alone. Thanks

[@thomasliu4545]

Well done Sam! Thanks!

[@AS-nr8em]

After watching this I finally (after 10 months of being in pain) can understand what is going on. Thank you so much!!

[@MohamedTarek-hd5gg]

Are you better now ?

[@sedufort]

Wow this is the best video that I have seen so far. Everything you have said about this I am going through now. With the gate of my walk to how I have numbness and everything else you explain. I blew my knee out sideways and tore 4 ligaments and my nerve. I have had foot drop for over 20 years now. With this long of an injury will it cause back damage due to the gate of my walk? I am having severe back issues and am wondering if it is caused from my complete foot drop?

[@shoelace.16]

I have neuropathy in my hands and feet from a genetic disease which in turn caused muscular dystrophy-- I grew up with it so I had to learn how to walk because I kept tripping!! Especially during growth spurts. And I've sprained my ankle from rolling it out more times than I can count, even just walking. I realized that my gait is the lifting one, except since I have it in both feet, it's switching my weight between my legs. I just wanted to share because your video taught me so much about this disorder I've had my entire life!

[@onetypeofstrength]

Sounds like my story. Do you wear AFO’s?

[@RAM6165]

Thank you! Great explanation!

[@mariadavis8000]

Thank you for such a great explanation, my 24 y/o son has foot drop from a basketball injury which dislocated his knee, torn ACL & injured PCL & LCL.. he’s already had knee surgery but has been left with foot drop. As his mother I am doing my research to find ways on how to help him.. is this condition permanent or temporary?

[@5count611]

Awesome explanation I am experiencing this and I am scheduled for surgery on next Friday for decompression of the nerve

[@airhostessmaryam]

Amazing video ! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@mohitchawla9791]

Thanks for the video, helped me fix my running form - just a bit of dorsiflexion and I am not slapping my left foot anymore!

[@SunilKumar-yd6qr]

really liked about our foot... thnq so much sir...👍

[@jstpsgthru]

It's nice to know more about foot drop. Two different neurologists and a neurosurgeon have documented my foot drop, but haven't even mentioned treatment. I think it is because I have peripheral neuropathy. I couldn't toe walk even if the foot drop was helped, I guess. What is your opinion of nerve hydro-dissection of the peroneal nerve for foot drop?

[@itsjustme2970]

Thanks! I don't really have a footdrop but pain on the lateral side of my leg and some numbness of the big toe. I don't have any back pain but because I have problems on both sides of the leg/foot they said the problem isn't in the leg but in the lower back. They also said that they hope that my pain will move to my back instead of the leg. I still dont quite understand that part but after seeing this video I'm more prepared for my next visit.

[@dbelden]

Love the green! (And the content.)

[@CARRJ142]

Another Great video.

[@j.d.hutchens3561]

I had a bypass done on my right leg. After surgery, my leg was numb from the knee down to my toes. I had a foot drop. One year later I am numb from the knee down to my toes and can't flex my foot or toes. My surgeon said there isn't anything that can be done. Is he right? Also, I can't flex my toes down to push up.

[@timm2020]

I have this and it sucks. I had a Herniated Disc at L5. Due to Covid they could not do surgery and mine went too long. Now I have permanent drop foot and numbness. Get chronic hip and back pain.

[@somehowuseful7665]

Great U doctor r great I'm a medical student and u made it easy to me to understand

[@cygnus108]

Thanks for the explanation

[@jeanholt9633]

L5 S1 injury -> sciatic nerve injury - now 5 years with drop foot and 2 ankle surgeries later (Brostrom from rolling ankle). I find I can ride a bike fine (clipped in) ... but I need to hydrate otherwise prone to cramp. Don Joy ankle braces been a life saver. I find exercise and hydration best !!!!

[@AnxiousMedic]

Sam is there a video on pharyngeal arches? Please. Thank you and love you so very much. Very very fond of your teaching. Respect from Pakistan.

[@babulraj7410]

thank u so much sir..great video indeed and very well explained😊

[@henrijames7337]

Thank you for that explanation. I have had foot drop for 40 odd years following a motorcycle accident in my late teens. I broke my femur in my left leg and smashed up the patella as well as other damage to other limbs. Due to an infection I was taken off traction early ( it was the 70s) and this meant that my femur joined together with an overlap and my left leg is shorter than my right by a good two inches. The 'upside' of this it means I can swing my left leg through easier and over time my hips have compensated for the unevenness. Whether this will cause me problems later in life I do not know.

[@kuchgod89]

I have so many questions for you sir. My superficial peroneal nerve was severed in 08'. Are you having issues with building muscle in your leg effected?

[@henrijames7337]

) @kuchgod89 Yes, I still cannot build muscle in my lower left calf. I now have nerve pain in my foot as well.

[@crystalsmith6226]

Thanks for the demonstration, As I am New to FDdrop, Sliced by boat propeller, right at the fibular neck. Severed the Common Peroneal Nerve. This explains alot of what's on my medical papers. I have No Anterior or Lateral Muscle function.. Hope I can heal from this. Thank you.

[@nolaigmckaigney7135]

Can’t dorsiflex, 8 years post stroke, with left side hemiplegia wear AFO,foot tends to invert, can’t bend knee PT feels I have a combo of foot drop with v high tone around the ankle. Walk daily & swing my leg through with no dragging/ tripping using tripod cane. Would massage be better than PT to improve dorsiflexion. Also do squats nightly. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. BTW. excellent presentation . Delighted I found it.look forward to more

[@calb488]

His explanation of walking with footbdrop is exactly what I'm dealing with.

[@MyReza1000]

I had trouble dropping, and especially difficulty moving my left toes up and slightly down, so I had surgery on three of my lumbar discs on the advice of doctors. But now, 45 days after my surgery, the problem of my left toes not moving has not been resolved. Where does the problem come from and what is the problem? Am I being treated? I am very sad and sad because of this problem that has happened to me.

[@user-qe1ig8qz5i]

Спасибо огромное за такое грамотное обьяснение

[@ziu5]

i have foot drop after hardware removal surgery from a tibial plateau depressed fracture, and i don't have access to physical therapy, what you think i should do?

[@gowrishankarkn1465]

bro is saving my internal exams from complete failure 🙏

[@damrinder]

Can lumbar lordosis also cause foot drop...bcz when i walk normally..no problem. But when i jog or walk fast...this condition appears within 2 minutes in both legs. L5S1 mild impingement is mentioned in mri

[@bodvargregersen5161]

Dr. Sam, your presentation of foot drop was excellent. I should know because I had foot drop for 18 years. But I have recently uncontracted the gluteus and TFL muscles which loosened my IT Band. Now I am getting fitted with the latest brace to keep my leg from hyperextending. Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

[@bodvargregersen5161]

My foot drop was caused when I had a hemorrhagic stroke. The licensed orthotist who measured me for a leg brace said that I had a contracture of the plantar flexion muscles. The leg brace made me exercise the plantar flexion muscles which resolved the contracture. Warning: if one has a contracture of the TFL muscle and gluteus maximus muscle, this will cause one’s gait to be restricted in the forward and backward range of motion (ROM). This problem must be resolved before a leg brace can resolve contracture of the plantar flexion muscles (calf muscles).

[@tdhanasekaran3536]

Very beautiful demonstration of a drop foot movement problem by a normal walking person. Great job by the way. I can demonstrate this problem myself better because I have a drop foot problem as I type this comment now. It happened two months ago after a shingles attack on my nerve endings of my right leg. The shingles outbreak itself was caused by a non symptomatic Covid-19 attack (58Yo male) a month causing immunity compromise and a childhood chicken pox event). The pain was unbearable for 3-4 weeks. After valcivir ( anti viral drug), Gabapentin/Nortryptyline and later with Duloxetine (aka Cymbalta), the excruciating nerve pains has gone completely. But the drop foot still persists and the dorsiflexion movement of my right foot. I am continuing my physiotherapy as well as Electric stimulation therapies. I am hoping to get back to my stable walking movement without going under the knife.

[@ndelakim7115]

Thank you so much,I can do my presentation with confidence

[@vioricarosu3516]

Buna! Cum esti acum ? M-ai ai piciorul cazut?

[@lozzam]

Excellent explanation, wish I could have shown it to my GP when I had a back injury 6 years ago! Might have been able to achieve better mobility. I now understand the inflection as well as dorsiflexion. All a bit late but I’m using EMS to try and keep some muscle tone.

[@juliamatheson2694]

I'm interested to know if you have had any success with the EMS? I have the same (recent) injury and I'm trying EMS for dorsiflexion/muscle tone.

[@OneKindWord]

What causes foot drop? What about bilateral foot drop? Could compression fractures in L4 and L5 be related to foot drop? Is there a possible spinal surgery correction? Which AFO braces work better?

[@mission_xpro]

Hello Sir, i got a problem with my Left foot. I can't lift it . The problem started when i was playing football ⚽ and one player came behind me and cut me down while i was at the ev of scoring a goal. From that foul , i felt my knee paining and i never concentrated a lot on it until the match ended. After two days i started feeling serious pain at the knee joints when I'm sleeping at night, but during day time , there wasn't no pain. After a month i started feeling my foot toes being paralyzed (not responding to my desired movements, like stretching my toes, diffulty while walking). I started experiencing exactly the same symptoms you have explained in this video. I have gone twice to doctors and they took a full x ray scan of my Left leg 🦵. But in their results, they see no broken bone 🦴 or fracture. They also carried out peroneal nerve testing and my toes seem to be responding by checking when the electrode is put at the articular branch of my Left knee. My knee seriously feel weakened. İ can't walk properly. I'm traumatized by this disability thing . Please 🙏 i just need your advice and i the procedures to follow to treat this.

[@LanghTheuMang-vq3lj]

how long it will take to recover

[@beautifuldream108]

Dear sir, a lot of KZbin does not explain the way you do. Can you do a video on shoulder, frozen shoulder, and nerves of shoulder connection with the brain? How does brain control the muscles? How is it controls the numbness of the whole hand? Being a stroke patient, This video is great information video and details out why. Thanks.👏👏👏👍

[@alexsanders9212]

My one year six months old baby is walking with one leg slower than the other is that a foot drop , should I see a doctor ? She was born prematurely after a six months of pregnancy.

[@MrFookface]

Thank you for helping me to understand my condition. I really appreciate it. I've still no idea if this is something I will ever fully recover from. It was caused by an L5/S1 compression.

[@suetruter8086]

Thanks for the explanation. I got drop foot from severe nerve damage after 2 X cancer in my leg. Here in SA the treatment isn't so good and proactive.

[@divyakantdangar]

Perfect explain about foot drop & tible narve...i have left leg footdrop last 4 years...doctor not deside to how it fix.

[@aliciaevangelista122]

thank you for the info

[@fredbecht2808]

Thank You!

[@ubansensei]

Hi sir. Can you help me? I cannot tiptoe or lift myself up with my right foot. thanks

[@simranjeet2214]

Sir i have foot drop and spasticity in my foot what I should do to make my leg in normal condition

[@iharper76]

In my case of foot drop, i didnt have any injury or back pain or damage.. What caused my foot drop was a really bad case of muscle cramp on my left calf muscle during the night.. I couldn't lift my toes or my foot of the floor. This gradually got better over the next 6-10 weeks I used the towel exercise under my toes to lift my toes and foot towards my shin bone. Im glad to say my dropped foot is back to normal again

[@MohamedTarek-hd5gg]

Can you tell my about this exercise

[@iharper76]

@@MohamedTarek-hd5gg yea certainly.. I tried these excercise s, and they worked for me.,and gave me more mobility with my foot drop.. Back to normal mobility after 8 weeks kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4XHm6eVqsxorJY

[@HafidzJaisy]

I'm suffering drop foot because motorcycle accident. the accident causing my thigh broke, i was thinking when the accident happened it's just fracture. after the surgery i can't move my ankle, it's feel so heavy. I still positively thinking that it's was under the anesthetic not because the nerve was damaged. the question is, can i do some nerve surgery in order to have possibility to walk normally or just wait the nerve will healing by itself? because my Medical Rehabilitation doctor said that i don't need surgery, just be patient to waiting the nerve healing by itself 😮‍💨

[@k-pop-korn6825]

Does using a cane "help" with walking with food drop? thank you♣︎

[@xanamata5386]

does traffic and noise pollution keep a tense on the nerves ?

[@nb2028]

Happy Holidays! Hope you get well rested for the next term!

[@abelngeendo3527]

Excellent

[@evelinedunganify]

suffered herniated disc in L5-S1 and have the opposite problem. Can't raise foot into tiptoe position. 4 small toes, outside of calf and heal completly numb.

[@mehmetyldrm7619]

thank you so much

[@mastersoanes]

You are excellent at explaining / talking around anatomical issues. I'm not sure if you are / have been a clinician at all? If I were a patient needing explanation of an issue, I would love to hear it from you. Thanks for the great videos

[@ramachandranramachandfan9036]

Without surgery foot drop will it be recoverable or not.

[@waqasaqeel4831]

I had an accident and after surgery(plating) i am experiencing same situation. Can any one know a better way to reget the foot.

[@swastikachakraborty6320]

Kindly tell me is foot drop curable?

[@freddyjay7822]

It’s going on a year that I have foot drop. What can I do to fix this please

[@shamaali4033]

Sir mere bete ka bhi footdrop h 5years se upar ki or nhi aata ilaj btaye saitika narv khichi h hipriplesmet ke baat hi footdrop ho gya ilaj to btaye

[@peteschreiber9517]

Thank you

[@allanparkins8142]

Hi any ideas what I can do if my foot drop ( in both legs ) started when I was early twenties and over 50 now the doctors say it is caused by a genetic neuropathy and nothing to do with the sciatic nerve. Thanks

[@samkitty5894]

Did you try and therapy? Or you just gave up and accepted it?

[@mdsawdin5266]

Sir my foot drop problem how to recover plz reply

[@chadland71]

I went to the doc and sent for testing because I also have gout, peripheral neuropathy and drop foot. When I went back for a follow up the doctor I saw first time wasn’t in. This doctor sent me home for a month with a topical medication for athlete’s foot. Please help

[@mynampallyananya1505]

You make life easier thank you :))))))))

[@jonathanbell8887]

I’ve been saying this is what is wrong with my leg for years. Shattered my knee cap with a major spiral fracture up to my hip - severed artery and blah blah blah I was banged up. Long story short I got drop foot but finally like 2.5 maybe a little longer into recovery I noticed the ever so slight tremble in my toes if I tried to lift them. Total paralysis before but now they’re just barely moving. Spent every waking hour of the day messing with them and now I can bring my foot to just a HAIR below parallel to the floor or basically a 90 degree angle. However I still have slap foot and big weakness in the front - and even with all of my weight on my toes and heel hanging off a ledge - it is trapped at 90 with my calf being like a rock. Recently started getting very excruciating massages on the calf while stretching it and see improvement for a few hours after before it goes back to the way it was. I have been told after 2 years that’s about all the improve I would see but I’m at nearly 5 or so since when I got hurt and actually see the most improvement just recently. Doctors are rubbish sometimes and I can tell you just from what you’re saying - I agree with you.

[@jonathanbell8887]

I also want to point out for the slap foot you’re mentioning at the end, I can actually walk pretty good now and most people don’t notice I even have a limp if I’m wearing pants and whatever. Although if I slowly and gently lower my weight down on my heel because I can raise my foot to a 90 like I said, I just can’t go beyond that and get my toes any closer to the shin - when my heel hits the floor the calf just totally takes over everything completely overpowering the rest of my leg causing my foot to slap down. I can also raise my toes pretty high if my foot is pointed straight. The closer to 90 I get my foot the more my toes are forced to go straight or even curl downward because of the lack of flexibility. It quite literally feels exactly the same as failing a max rep on something like bench. The more pressure that goes onto my heel the more my calf just completely obliterates the other muscles and completely overpowers them. Mind you this is almost 5 years like this and both calves are ludicrously tight and honestly probably worse on my “good leg” because i babied the bad one for so many years.

[@ayanmukherjee3593]

Pls post a video on Holden's line

[@avianphlu5397]

i have foot drop started 4 days ago right leg can the nerve be palpatated? if so, how?

[@youcannotbeatmebro]

Did you recover? If yes, how?

[@Sodalita159]

Oh my God, I have used my hip to compensate for my drop foot for years, walking and running... All the doctors who tried to help couldn't have explained this as well as you have... Wish you had published this about 7 years ago. Thank you so much for helping me understand my problem. I still need someone to figure out what is causing it, and I am hoping the podiatrist I am seeing now will be the one.

[@susanrivard3959]

I am a Carer for someone who has this problem. I have always wished they ( and their doctors) could find the root of the problem rather than having to brace the foot and or just slow down and lose mobility.

[@rahmanmcsween5239]

I never seen a leg model like that wow

[@danteherrera5087]

7:11 that's what I'm experiencing after a long flight and I'm trying to see how to either work this out or stretch it .

[@dharanidharanipradeep814]

Leg replacement?

[@srinivasbhuma3243]

Sir i have same foot drop prblm please who will solved this problem please tell me once sir

[@samkitty5894]

Good explanation on what foot drop is. Not much on how to fix it.

[@SamWebster]

To fix it, it depends on what has caused it.

[@bwead5856]

i dont know why i have this , i still havent gotten checked out , doctors are full

[@freddurst7181]

I woke up from a covid coma was out for 39 days woke up foot drop on left side can't flex my calf or nothing any idea ?

[@aytenalqahtani3588]

The same thing happened with me😳 on may I got covid and stayed in ICU with induced coma for one month and till now I’m suffering with foot drop, although doctors are saying it should be cure within one year

[@ktrkradio]

I swing up and thru. It's quite funny, i think I should try out for The Walking Dead