Common rehabilitation exercises that are indicated for patients with foot drop include passive movement, walking exercises, and rehabilitation exercises, but they may not always result in a complete return to normal.
There are many causes of foot drop, including peroneal nerve injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and peripheral neuritis. Treatment varies from cause to cause. Taking the most common peroneal nerve injury as an example, training is mainly carried out through the following methods.
1. Passive movement: In the early stage of recovery, patients can carry out passive training with the help of rehabilitation therapists, mainly including joint mobility training and muscle strength training. After the patient’s muscle strength reaches the second level, the patient can be encouraged to take the initiative to carry out foot flexion and extension activities. This will lay the foundation for patients to recover normal walking function.
2. Walking training: when the patient’s recovery is good, walking activities can be carried out. The training should be gradual, first stand with the help of the wall, and then practice squatting and walking. Some patients can walk with the help of orthopedic appliances, which can help patients maintain balance.
3. Rehabilitation training: It mainly includes tibialis anterior muscle and extensor digitorum longus tendon suspension, gastrocnemius muscle medial and lateral head anterior shift and so on.
It is recommended that patients with foot drop be treated under the guidance of professional doctors, and do not blindly exercise on their own to avoid adverse consequences.