Q. My ankle doesn’t bend up when I walk. It drags on the ground. What could be causing this drop foot, and what can I do about it?
A
Drop foot (also called foot drop) is caused by weakness or poor function of the muscles in the front of the leg that lift the front part of your foot (called dorsiflexion). People with foot drop may drag their toes when they walk and may have to lift their knee higher than usual to get the foot to clear the ground. Walking this way can increase the risk of falling. Foot drop is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of several possible conditions. Therefore, you should see your physician to get a diagnosis.
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