Foot drop, or ankle weakness, is a condition where there is difficulty lifting the front part of the foot when walking. The foot drop weakness can be seen as ‘dorsiflexion’ weakness. Dorsiflexion movement is the action of lifting your toes up, similar to lifting the foot off of a gas pedal or brake.

For those who have had stroke, foot drop can be a common symptom. It is estimated that 20% of those who have had stroke experience some sort of foot drop. Foot drop can be considered temporary or permanent depending on severity. Foot drop can often look like dragging or shuffling the foot when moving. Foot drop can cause slow walking, frustration, fatigue, pain, and can cause falling which can lead to other concerns.

Typical treatments of foot drop caused by stroke are physical therapy, the use of braces/orthotics, electrical stimulation, or surgery. This research study is investigating a new possible treatment for foot drop caused by stroke – the use of a portable ankle robot during physical therapy sessions.