One of the first things I recommend to reduce foot drop is to reduce the over-activity of the muscles causing your spasticity.

In this session I will show you:

1. An effective way to REDUCE SPASTICITY by releasing tight, stiff, or overactive muscle tissue in the foot and ankle using a myofascial roller, ball, or your hands.

2. Which muscles need to be released to reduce stiffness, spasticity, and weakness in your foot and ankle.

3. The correct technique for releasing muscles effectively to reduce foot drop and IMPROVE MOBILITY & BALANCE.

Once we release the overactive muscles that cause foot drop, the second step is to decrease the activity of your sympathetic nervous system which signals your brain that it is time to fight, flight, or fear.

In this session, we will cover:

1. How seated 2-PHASE Stretching can help your MS symptoms.

2. Which joints need to be moved to reduce foot drop symptoms.

3. How to perform the 2-PHASE stretching technique.

4. How long and how often you can practice this skill.

Another common cause of foot drop is weakness in the muscles of the lower leg.

What I typically see is a neurological disruption in the communication between the brain and the muscles of the lower leg.

In this session, we will discuss and practice:

1. Using resistance bands to improve ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

2. How to best strengthen the muscles surrounding your ankle for less foot drop.

3. Modifications to the movement drill if needed.

Another common symptom experienced with foot drop is the loss of lateral or side to side ankle mobility and strength.

It is very important that your foot, ankle, and lower leg can rotate to the inside and outside.

In this session, we will discuss and practice:

1. Using resistance band training to improve lateral / medial ankle movement.

2. Strengthening the muscles surrounding your ankle.

3. Improving motor control of your lower leg, ankle, and foot.

4. Modifications to the movement drill if needed.

One of the most neglected ankle movements, that must be addressed with foot drop or lower limb spasticity and weakness, is ANKLE TILTING.

Ankle tilting involves the talus bone sliding side to side over the calcaneus bone (heel).

This movement is necessary for your foot to pronate (flatten the arch) and supinate (lift the arch).

In this session, we will discuss and practice:

1. The mechanics of ankle movement.

2. Why RESTORING ankle tilting is important for walking.

3. How to EFFECTIVELY improve ankle tilting.

4. Modifications to the movement drill if needed.