Today's video covers foot drop and ankle dorsiflexor strengthening exercises that can be done to help correct this issue. The ankle dorsiflexors are located on the front of the shin and act as the antagonist to the calf muscles (plantarflexors). They play an important role in the walking (gait) cycle and are responsible for two primary actions during gait, which include:

1. The dorsiflexors are activated when contact (heel strike) is first made with the ground. As the heel hits, this group must contract eccentrically in order to allow the foot to be set down smoothly. Weakness of the dorsiflexors during this task creates the ‘foot slap’ phenomenon as the foot falls quickly and slaps the ground.

2. The dorsiflexors are activated a second time as the foot is picked up and swung forward in preparation for a new step. These muscles must dorsiflex the ankle, so that the toes do not catch on the ground. In situations of dorsiflexor compromise, the toes may catch, which is termed ‘foot drag’, and may cause the individual to trip and become injured.

Besides gait issues, the dorsiflexors are often implicated in more common orthopedic issues such as shin splints, tendon disorders and more severe low back cases (L4 level) that can be associated with dorsiflexor weakness and foot drop.

If you are experiencing either dorsiflexor fatigue and/or foot drop or drag, give these exercises a try. If you are experiencing complete muscle paralysis, you will need to speak with a practitioner about implementing other interventions, like electrical stimulation, as these exercises will most likely be impossible to perform.

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