Foot drop is a condition where you can't lift the front part of your foot, causing it to drag during walking. It stems from weakness or damage to the muscles and nerves controlling ankle dorsiflexion.
## Symptoms
People with foot drop often show a steppage gait, lifting the knee higher or swinging the leg outward to avoid toes catching the ground. This can lead to foot slapping on heel strike, tripping risk, and sometimes numbness on the foot's top.
## Common Causes
The main trigger is peroneal (fibular) nerve injury near the knee, from trauma, compression, or surgery. Other factors include lumbar radiculopathy (like L5 nerve root issues from disc herniation), diabetes-related neuropathy, spinal disorders, or muscle conditions.
