Drop foot - From the Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone!

Just clearing up some fallacies regarding drop foot, CPMs and how this occurs.

Nerves carry two messages - sensation from the muscle to the brain and motor

messages from the brain to the muscle.

Problems occur when there is some compromise to the nerve which supplies the

foot. Just like when your foot falls asleep when you sit in the same position

too long, prolonged pressure can cause pins and needles and if left unadressed,

can cause motor deficits. In the case of the CPM, the only way a CPM can cause

drop foot is if the machine is left unchecked and is causing prolonged pressure

to the nerve. This can occur if someone is on an epidural or nerve block and

has no sensation to the leg, which would not allow them to feel any

uncomfortable sensations or numbness.

There can also be problems with drop foot if a nerve is compromised during

surgery. This is why nurses and therapists are constantly encouraging ankle

pumps - to check nerve function and blood flow as well as start moving blood in

the calves to decrease the chances of clots.

Alisa Curry PT DPT

Site Moderator