Footdrop and AFOs

[Guest guest]

I don't know if this is accurate, but it is the way I understand it....

if the nerves controlling the muscles which are at the front of the shin and

top of the ankle don't work then those " tilt the foot upwards " muscles are

weak and the foot will tend to droop when the leg lifts the foot from the

floor.

AND

if the nerves controlling the muscles at the back of the shin/ankle don't

work then those " tilt foot down to stand on tip-toe " muscles are weak and

the person will not be able to stand on tip toes

Thats me... foot is floppy, so walk by lifting knees higher.

BUT Sometimes, the nerves at the front (and therefore muscles at front) are

weak and the ones at the back are normal - so the person's foot tends to be

pulled all the time into the tiptoe position and the tendon shortens

Thats one of my kids... needed tendon lengthening operation on back of

ankles and later needed one foot " fused " so stayed at 90 degrees.

But it's not clear to me why some people with footdrop need AFOs and others

don't. Maybe if they have bigger feet, or maybe if the back muscles do work

just a bit, tending to pull the foot down a bit more.

Anyway... variety is the spice of life. The other son has size 14 feet and

uses AFOs almost all the time. Can walk without them, but feels more of a

clutz (spelling!!)

Cheers

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