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Foot Drop Treatment and Recovery

Foot Drop: Get Range of Motion Back in Your Foot

Foot Drop occurs when the nerve function down the leg is so impacted that the foot actually drops. Most often it’s because the L4/L5 nerve root is compressed in the lumbar spine (i.e., the lower back).

In Josh’s case, he had an injury that had left his lower leg almost useless for over nine months. Here is Josh’s brief description of his recovery process:

This has been a game changer in the most real and amazing ways. I had an incident a year ago causing nerve damage to my left leg, leaving my foot and parts of my leg numb, tingling with extraordinary pain, and useless. I spent many sleepless nights screaming in agony into a pillow... and I'm being very literal when l say that. Doctors said it was possible I would never gain any feeling or mobility in that leg again.


I recently began acupuncture with Tara Perry and I cannot say enough great things about her work and the results. After just 3 sessions, the range of motion in my ankle and foot (the most damaged area) has dramatically increased both in muscle activation and stretching ability. The damage done from the incident caused drop-foot as well and until recently, I wore a brace for walking support and to keep my foot from hanging and causing it to drag or catch the ground, which can lead to further injury to the affected area or a whole separate injury. Needless to say, I no longer wear the brace now and am able to walk with confidence and almost no limp, ride bike, dance, etc. and all-in-all live a more enjoyable life.

The treatment given by Tara is top-notch and on top of that, she is very knowledgeable and truly cares for your well-being. I leave there each time feeling more and more physically AND mentally stronger, uplifted, and with a true sense of peace and progress. I feel blessed to have had my path cross her and look forward to continuing because based on my experience so far, the results and progress in the short time I've been treated by Tara have exceeded any expectations or thoughts of the possibilities going into it. I won't go to anyone else.

Josh S.

The majority of the cases of foot drop I have treated have been successful in reversal of the symptoms and safe avoidance of surgery. (Surgery is typically indicted for this if recovery is not achieved quickly with non-invasive therapies).

Acupuncture increases blood flow and neurological activity to the body.  Proper stretching, strengthening and good body mechanics can help the body achieve lasting success.   

If you would like to find out more information about foot drop, I suggest you visit the information page from the National Insitute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke