Some people with multiple sclerosis develop foot drop (sometimes called “drop foot”), a weakness in the ankle and foot muscles that makes it hard to flex the ankle and walk with a normal heel-toe pattern, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). When you have foot drop, your toes touch the ground before your heel, which can cause you to trip or lose your balance. But a variety of treatment options can improve your ability to walk and help you stay active and independent.
In addition, spasticity, or MS-induced tightness in the calf muscle, can contribute to the toes’ pointing downward, making it even more difficult for the muscles to lift the foot, says Mandy Rohrig, a physical therapist and the senior programs consultant for Can Do MS.
When you walk with foot drop, you may catch your toes on the ground and trip because you can’t lift the toes out of the way when swinging the foot during a step, explains Michelle Fabian, MD, an associate professor of neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
“To avoid tripping, [people with foot drop] may lift their hip up higher than normal, leading to a walking appearance called a steppage gait — they might appear to be going up a step,” Dr. Fabian adds.