Foot Drop: Exercise to Improve Walking Part 2 

These exercises never get old- I usually come back to them to double check my gait an iron out any kinks in my walking pattern. Its always good to come back to basics. This is timeless content!

I always find your videos very helpful. I appreciate you so much. I do have a Walk Aid. I believe it has helped me immensely. This video came when I really needed it. You touch a lot of lives and make a difference for us when some of us feel like we are alone in this. Take care and thank you. 🤗

The exercises here are simply fantastic!! I was in a wheelchair for a few months, all up 7 months of HELL. The pain from a herniated lumbar disc/sciatica was HORRID. I wanted to avoid surgery. 8 months down the track and having had daggers speared at my patience and sanity I am finally pain free and now need to learn to walk again. You make sense, easy to understand and the exercises work! Many thanks for your time and energy. From Sarah, an Aussie in Tokyo.

I just turned 34. I'm recovering from Drop Foot. Basically I herniated a disk so bad that it caused some pretty severe Spinal Stenosis. The pain was so bad. But the emotional agony of dragging my foot and just loosing all ability to lift it was far worse. I started to loose hope but just kept fighting through the pain and did everything I could to not let my foot go completely limp. I remeber tying a sock around my shin, then one around my toes, then putting a belt through both loops and tightening as much as I could. That's how I was able to walk the first week. I would have to mentally battle myself for each step with mybright foot. Trying as hard as I could to make sure my heel at least slightly touched first. I also bought an ankle brace. I would thread the first eyelets of my shoes first; pull my foot up, then secure the laces with the ankle brace velcro. Then run the laces through the top eyelets of the shoe and tie. That REALLY helped. I started tonsee products online but never bothered to order because they would take about 2 weeks to arrive and had already been told I was getting emergency surgery in less than a week. I went to walgreens and found a brace for Planters Fasciitis and that helped me sleep and get through the week without having to do the uncomfortable belt sock thing. It's been 2 weeks and 2 days since my surgery. I stretch and do a lot of these excercises often. I've gotten about 60% of my foot strength back. I walk barefoot no problem but the weight of sneakers still makes my foot tired and after about half an hour my foot will start to flop. I'm optomistic though. Very happy with my progress so far. I know my foot will be 100% soon. Thank you for making these types of videos. They really gave me hope in my darkest hours.

Thank you very much for the exercises. Your clear, concise, and informative video is made even better because of the quality of your voice. Sincerely, Ann Korach

Tara, thank God for you and the knowledge you share! You are a gem.

Thank you Dr. Tara Tobias , for everything. . Your explanations are incredibly helpful .

Thank you I have just got foot drop never had a problem before I will practice what you said your a great teacher to very clear !

Thank you ! I’m doing research to help speed up my recovery process as I work with my own PT and surgeon who has diagnosed me with foot drop due to a herniation mainly at L5. I also was fitted for an AFO which is a godsend for working as a CNA. I am a distance runner , enjoy downhill skiing wtc etc etc and am normally highly active every day. This has benched me for all those activities , I’m hopeful to get back to my normal life with consistent perseverance and determination ! These videos are very helpful . Tysm !

you gave me right path after long 6 years of struggle..

So helpful, thanks. I have had foot drop for a year+ but still hoping and working. Would like to see more of your videos.

Thank you so much. So well explained. Really fabulous.

This is so helpful... can't wait for your new content in 2020. Happy New years. I've use bioness for leg and my arm. Very cool btw.

Thank you! I have #footdrop in my left foot due to 4 herniated lumbar discs and it is causing serious knee, and sleeping problem and I can’t afford surgery to fix my back or physical therapy to fix my foot drop. This is hands down the BEST video I have found about it and exercises I can do to help recover from it.

love your video.Thanks so much. I have drop foot and have tried many braces. I think I will try all your excerises. Please keep up the good work.

Thank you for these videos. I wish I could have found them sooner. My husband has footdrop in both legs and has issues with just standing. We have been looking for anything that helps. Our doctor has been anything but helpful. Thank you again

Thank you. Had acute piriformis syndrome. Couldnt walk for a month. When i could finally stand, i couldnt walk correctly. This is so helpful.

Very clearly explained , very educative , thus very encouraging . Thanks.

I love it when you say that remember you are building a connection with your brain and teaching him to make a new nerve. Your teaching is awesome. I am just fedup with this foot drop. Now i orderd from amazon for stablizing this foot drop. But i will follow ur footsteps. Plz mention the time how long we should do this exercise daily and how many times.

I always find your videos very helpful.i m very happy

Thank you for the video it's very helpful

Thanks for another great upload.

thank you dr. tobias i have a friend who has a real problem with foot drop and i am sure your video will help her

Thanks. So helpful!

Thank you for being someone so detail oriented and personable with things, you are a blessing! #footdrop

Thank you for your helpful and informative videos

Thanks a lot doc.it helps me to much.only your vedio help me to much .thank and more power .God bless you

Thanx alot for sharing the videos. It is valuable for us.

Thanks to you tara from deep heart

Thank you Doc.very informative and useful. I had this foot drop also knee stiffness. I had surgery of tibial plateau fixation. My leg stayed in a cast for almost 7 weeks . The ortho doc.told me to go for a rehab. I have 2X a week. If I'm home I continue walking tip toe, icing, but my sensation for my leg is worsen. I keep on focus although tough for me that I can walk to normal again. I learned now some of your technique to apply to myself which is a big help Thank you reall doc.😇

Thank you Dr Tara,the video is engligtening

#foot drop with spasticity so glad I found these two videos today!

thanks a lot!

Thank you nice very helpful for me.

Foot drop videos are wonderful and helpful.

Hallo,Dr. Tobias! I began watching your videos too weeks ago. My son had stroke before 12. For some time I tried to find good exercises, because our therapy don't work a lot according to me. So, I want to say THANK YOU for what you do! Your videos are the most helpful and comprehensible that I ever watched.

Love this lady❤🙏

You explain it so good,I’m enjoying the videos

Thank You It Help

this type of video is very helpful for me thank you dr

Thank you

I am on my second BIONESS. The second one is without the foot sensor, making it much better! I am continuing with rehab 7 years after stroke, getting insurance approval for 2-3 weeks outpatient PT. I also, bike on my semi-recumbrent bike; go to an indoor arena to walk; and take the MANY STEPS IN MY HOUSE, alternating feet (foot over foot). My foot and ankle is STILL the problem. Will keep on keeping on. (I suffer from tone/spasticity. Botox worked; suddenly developed an allergic reaction to it!)

Very helpful...

enjoyed your videos

It is really very very helpful video to correct my FOOT DROP.

Thank you, very helpful and effective No more foot drop. Blessings ❤️

Thank you I wished I found you sooner the exercises is a great addition. Part one was very helpful I do them before I get out of bed in the morning. Another great product is the saebo step you can wear it with dress shoes. I look forward to seeing more videos from you. #footdrop #MS

Thanks. Nice Video

I for sure going to do these exercises as I can't wait to walk properly again

Thank you for the definition of terms! I have #spasticity (not foot drop) related to MS.

You give such clear explanation. My question is dystonia the same as spasticity?

Thanks for this very important video

Thanks for sharing...

Thanks!

Awesome tips for foot drop cases.

Very helpful

thank you for sharing these information ,,please what about cerebral palsy and head injuries children those who have drop foot what are your recommendations about exercises

I got my foot drop from having 6 his replacements. I hope these excises work for me. Thank you.

Thank you very much for this video. I'm having Stroke and spinal card bone TB. Please provide spinal card exercises. Now walking with stick but need to understand correct exercises.

Can you tellme the reason for the none movements in my toes i got a stroke in 2015 on my right side i am walking a little with a cane also my right arm is very stiff

Great video👍... So about the FES and EMS. What's the appropriate settings to use. For instance,the mode, the pulse width, pulse rate etc. Thank you

#footdrop. Thanks for the exercises ideas. I will definitely do these at home. I had a stroke 8 weeks ago and am experiencing footdrop.

When you got knee hypertension how can I do the wall exercises. Thanks

#footdrop#from accident that lead to back surgery. Thank you for the valuable information.

Hi! Thank u for video.) Could I ask u. After ecsostosis sergery can we use electo stimulation? Does it won't hurt??)

I like so much your explanation just one to know how Long to do each exercise

From Bangladesh. very informative for me.

I have powerdot with 3 electrodes to place. Any suggestions for placement in this case?

Hi Dr Tobias! My ankle will flex when i lift my hip and knee. Is the stepping up on a step and striking the heel, still worth doing with this abnormal synergy pattern?

Have drop foot both videos great information I do have brace, all the therapy np one never have had exercise like this, I am going to try them. have been told just wear your brace. thank you so much

#footdrop-Thank you for all of these valuable tips/ideas!

Thank you for posting these videos. They are very helpful for me. I try to do these exercises two hours a day, every day and I am getting better and I plan to be able to run again. Thank you.

Thank you so much Dr, your videos has been so helpful to me, I'm really developing very fast since I coupled your instructions with my stimulator. I have a question, what could be the cause? I usually feel internal burn on my unaffected thigh, and 2nd, whenever I bend down, it will seem as if current is wired through my affected hand down to my body and instantly, I will feel tired.

my right leg foot is dropping when im running or walking...and ive been through hard times in school...thanks for giving me hope to walk properly again i hope i could walk like a normal person ;)

thanks

My right sciatic nerve was severed in repaired due to a stabbing in my upper thigh was hoping to reach out maybe u have insight on what else i can do, i walk with one of the braces in ur video that slips on with my shoes have been able to regain pushing down but not much pulling up with the foot irs hard find ppl with right knowledge to help

Like it I like your videos so helpful I need to activate my left arm I've had a stroke that almost killed me leaving me paralyze on my entire leftplease help me you're very knowledgeable tink for all you do you're so dedicated

#footdrop I need all the help I can get! This is the first video I’ve seen that explains how the e-stim is used to assist you. Thanks!

My husband suffered a stroke feb.22, 2018, he lost complete use of his left side and only 3 and s half months of therapy 1hour sessions 3 times a week. We were taught the basics and I (his wife) working with him have bought him a long way from where he was. I think his biggest thing holding him back is his fear of falling, what can we do together to help him get past this fear? Your videos are really great and I am so glad I found you in you tube, thank you for caring about stroke recovering folks out here! Can't wait for a response to my question...

What if I can’t fully dorsiflex and put my heel on ground due to calf muscle atrophy caused by non weight bearing after a grade 3 ankle sprain? Will these exercises still help?

I put more weight on my dominant right foot for moving. Recently I have ordered BAREFOOT shoes , I hope they will be helpful for improving my gate pattern.

Thank you I’ll be doing these very soon! I use a NMES device by Odstock Medical Ltd it is called ODFS Pace not as advanced as the ones you’re talking about as it is wired but it helps me a lot and is a lot cheaper. Here it is available on the NHS.

#foot drop. Thanks for good exercises & motivation

Have you more exercises for foot drop with loop bands? I find my rehab is more consistent with them.

Extremely helpful! Thank you so much! #dropfoot

I have a client with transverse myolitis following his second covid vaccination. He has a foot drop and wears an AFO. He gets fatigued very quickly and then his tone increases. Any suggestions on what I can do to help his foot drop during gait and stepping. I have been using some facilitation during gait practice

Beyond to compare thanx

Thank you for these helpful videos. I think after listening to them, I have identified that I have mild spasticity after a stroke two and a half years ago. I walk regularly but still my affected leg drags on the ground occasionally, especially as I get tired and my balance is poor. I was interested in purchasing the foot strap you mentioned but this is no longer available on Amazon. I looked for alternatives but none were available. Are they no longer approved of? Can you suggest any available alternative ? Thank you

#footdrop, Thank you. I will try this exercises. I have the mild spasticity.

I had back surgery for Cauda equina syndrome (CES) and have been in a wheelchair for four years. I can move my legs but I have a foot drop on the left foot. I also have both knees that are locked in a bent position. Would you suggest working on the drop foot first or the hamstrings to free the knees? Really like your videos. Please advice. Thank You

any advance exercises for foot drop ty

I still put alot weight on cane when walking, is there exercises that I can do help with this I also have subinated foot and plantar fascilitis I really appreciate all your videos I am now able to ben my knee while walking thanks to you as you keep me motivated

My muscles left leg not working properly I thought loss so pls give me advise

I have suffered with a herniated disc for a year . After 3 months I started with dropfoot of sort. My "lift off" is not working . I have done physio , stretches daily for months. I just had surgery for nerve decompression (laminectomy and discectomy. One week ago. Now my focus is to get my foot working again so I can walk properly! Gain my strength, play with my first grandchild expected in July and get back into shape. I am 68 but before this I could walk for miles and excercise. I am going to start this program today and if you have other recommendations, please let me know! Sincerely, Kate

Nice explain mam

#footdrop Excited to find your videos!

when everytime i extend my leg to step my weak foot everts..what excercise is best for this.thanks

Thank you so much for this video. I have a terrible foot drop. Every time I take a step the tip of my foot is hitting the ground. In addition,my foot is just floppy and I swing it and drag it.

Hi I have listened to your videos of the foot drop. I had a operation on my umber area of my back, don't know which number and ended up with foot drop after twenty years of back trouble. My opp was in 2019. I keep myself busy on my feet as often as possible hoping that one day it my sort it self out but i can't see this happening now Is there anything I can do Please help

#footdrop Appreciate the videos and exercises, thanks again!