How do you run with drop foot.

[leftdrop]

It is good to know that there is a current support group for foot drop.  I was stopped in traffic in 2009 and rear ended, two days later a sharp pain shot down my leg and 2 days after that I had complete foot drop.  I like to call my gait, like a gazelle, it is not nearly that pretty, but it helps to cope.  I had surgery in January 2010 to help the nerve decompress, and had therapy until December of 2010.  I no longer have complete drop and am able to walk in shoes with a slight heel, this encourages the heel of your foot to come down before your toes.  I still have a brace, which I wear when I know I will be walking a lot, as my foot still gets tired and then I have a tendency to trip.  I don't know how anyone can run with drop foot, but I say, good for you I would love to know how you do it.  Thanks for listening.

[Turbomed_Ortho]

Hi, I'm François from Turbomed Orthotics,

I m a runner, I have drop foot since 2001
I designed a new type of external foot drop brace that allows me to run several full marathons. (see link below)
We designed this new foot drop brace specially for active poeples in search comfort and peace during intense and long endurance activity.
It do not need any support plate or any member to penetrate inside the shoe.
It will allow you to walk, run hike as far as you want without any risk of rubbing injuries due to the brace. You can see it in action on Youtube...

Website: www.turbomedorthotics.com
Video: http://youtu.be/KziRDfRrfGc

I can assure you that the comfort of our new external brace have nothing in common with any conventional internal brace.
Hope it will help everybody afflicted by drop foot to recover their full level of activity.

Visit us and feel free to leave us comments. ***@****
Regards
François

[FMDAdvocate]

I cannot imagine running with FootDrop. I try to be thankful for walking and not a wheelchair. I will checkout your blog GetBackUp. I have seen Allard ads for running in an AFO but hard for me to believe its safe. My best to you for having the courage to try. I've tried 4 different AFOs including the toe off which I found too difficult for me to bend & get back up. I use the OssurLite now whic for me is less around my leg & allows me more mobility. It's great we have options to learn what works for the frustration of foot drop.
Lisa

[GetBackUp]

I run with foot drop!!!

Seriously, I know exactly what you are going through.  If you trust me not to be a "sales person", I invite you to check out my blog. http://getbackuptoday.blogspot.com/  I go through my injury, how I ended up with foot drop, and now my adventures in 2012.  

I have been fitted for countless AFO's. Started with a beauty. The AFO was clumsy and bulky and often left me raw and bloodied after running. My orthotists worked tirelessly to trim, file, and pad my AFO, but nothing seemed to help. I spent a lot of my own money on a custom-fabricated articulating brace hoping this would ease the pain, but this was an expensive failure.

I couldn’t help but think that there must be something better for an athlete with foot drop. For 18 months, I searched the Internet while painfully continuing my training in my original AFO. My orthotist continued to assist me; he was as determined as I was and kept making modifications and seeking solutions.

After spending months dropping information pleading for help all over the web, I was contacted by Allard USA, they make the ToeOFF brace.  There was some trial and error when I first got it, (I broke my first one), but am now running in 1/2 marathons again with the ToeOFF.

For those of you might read this and don't run, the ToeOFF might provide some overal mobility lost - going to the bathroom without tripping, carrying a drink without tripping, etc.  I hope that this helps you!  PM me if you have any other questions!  I'm happy to share my experience.

[modernbird]

Hmm. Running isn't something that I can do. Hermiated discs lead to bilateral drop foot in 2005. I've been very, very lucky. It took years, but I have almost fully recovered. I even hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu last year! But, when I get tired, I still trip over my right foot.

I have tried running, but it's like my right foot has lost its shock absorber. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that it's ,uch harder for that foot to push off the ground? I feel more impact when I land on it and then have a harder time pushing off with it. If I focusd on it, maybe it would improve. Probably best to start with a threadmill, rather than hard surfaces like pavement. Good luck!