foot drop therapy

Effective Foot DROP Treatment | Regain mobility and independence

When you have dropped foot, or foot drop, it can result in a weakness in both or one leg. Impacting your ability move your ankle by pointing your toes up to the sky (dorsiflexion). As a result your foot remains in a dropped position while walking, with toes hanging downwards.

The difficulty of clearing the ground as you walk creates a tripping or fall risk. If you find you are compensating for foot drop by increased efforts in lifting and bending your hip and knee it can impact you further.

Effective foot drop treatment options are designed to understand the challenges you face and offer personalised treatment options to improve your mobility and quality of life.

Our team of skilled specialists combines their expertise with the latest advancements in foot drop treatment to create a personalised rehabilitation plan. With our considered approach and cutting edge exoskeleton therapy we are committed to helping you address the limitation caused by foot drop.

RoboFit is the only clinic in Australia offering access to the latest in neuro controlled exoskeleton therapy for foot drop. Click on the button below to get started by contacting our team.

Symptoms of FOOT DROP

Foot drop signs can begin with a noticeable weakness when trying to move your foot up and around at your ankle, with your foot feeling heavy. Additional symptoms may include

Tingling or numbness
Curling toes
Your foot dragging along the ground or catching while walking

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS FOR FOOT DROP

The first step is to conduct a thorough assessment and accurate diagnosis. RoboFit’s experienced specialists will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to understand what your current functional capacity is, your lifestyle, medical history and specific symptoms. This allows us to personalise a program to your needs.

PERSONALISED TREATment plans for Foot drop

Foot drop treatment plans will include a personalised program combining evidence based therapies and innovative techniques including:

Physical Therapy – working with exercise physiologists and physiotherapists using a personalised treatment plan. With a focus on stretching, strengthening, mobilising, proprioception and balancing exercises.
Assistive devices and technology – RoboFit has access to work leading ankle joint exoskeleton technology, with biofeedback designed to encourage neuroplasticity and target support.
Collaboration with allied health professionals – where treatment plans alongside podiatrists and orthotists when applying braces for community and home mobilisation.

Australia’s first neuro-responsive exoskeleton for those living with foot drop that are looking to increase their strength, mobility, and reduce muscle weakness and atrophy is available at RoboFit. The HAL exoskeleton uses bio-feedback send signals to the device to provide assistance to complete the range of motion. As clients progress through their program the level of assistance is aimed to be reduced over time.

Get started with RoboFit with a comprehensive suitability assessment including two sessions in the HAL ankle joint exoskeleton by completing the form below.

Contact the team now to schedule a trial with the HAL ankle joint exoskeleton.

session video for client with foot drop

what causes foot drop?

Foot drop is a symptom of an underlying problem with one of your nerves. This is the peroneal nerve. It is responsible for innervating the muscles that work together to easily lift up your foot in relation to your ankle position. Common causes of damage to this nerve often come from a trauma or accident; including;

Nerve Damage: The most common cause of foot drop is damage or compression to the peroneal nerve, which controls the muscles that lift the foot. Nerve damage can occur due to:
- Trauma or injury to the lower leg or knee
- Nerve entrapment or compression, such as in cases of a herniated disc or nerve impingement
- Nerve damage resulting from surgery, such as hip or knee replacement
Muscular Disorders: Certain muscular conditions can weaken the muscles involved in foot movement, leading to foot drop. These conditions include:
- Muscular dystrophy: A group of genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.
- Polio: A viral infection that can cause muscle weakness and paralysis.
Neurological Conditions: Foot drop can be associated with various neurological conditions that affect the nerves and muscles controlling foot movement. These conditions include:
- Stroke: A disruption of blood supply to the brain, which can result in muscle weakness or paralysis, including foot drop.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): An autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and coordination problems.
- Cerebral palsy: A group of movement disorders caused by abnormal brain development or damage, which can affect muscle control.
Nerve Disorders: Certain disorders can damage the nerves responsible for foot movement, leading to foot drop. These include:
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: A hereditary condition that affects the peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.
- Guillain-Barré syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness and paralysis.
- Peripheral neuropathy: Damage to the peripheral nerves, often caused by diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or infections.
Injuries: Foot drop can be a result of injuries that directly damage the peroneal nerve or the muscles involved in foot movement. Common injuries include fractures of the lower leg or ankle, deep cuts or lacerations, and nerve injuries during surgical procedures.

Robofit's Services

Exercise Physiology

Building on a foundation of traditional exercise physiology, our certified therapists harness the power of HAL to help people living with Cerebral Palsy achieve their goals.

Our sessions are done in a safe environment with falls prevention practices in place, with therapists using real-time data from the exoskeletons to meticulously craft a personalised training session.

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Neurological physiotherapy targets neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change and adapt through experience, growth, and re-organization.

Treatments for people living with Cerebral Palsy are focused on improving motor control, balance and coordination.

TELEHEALTH

We offer remote consultations with our therapists for those wishing to explore what training at RoboFit can do for them.

We offer a free 30 minute weekly group telehealth session that anyone can join and do from their home.

Contact our team to join these sessions.

ALLIED HEALTH

Working alongside RoboFit are a team of multidisciplinary partners who are passionate about helping people with a spinal cord injury to achieve their goals.

Where our team doesn’t have the right fit of skills for what you need we will try to help you find the right help.