Which exercises can help? | Weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot

Which exercises can help?

The exercise of the foot lifts is in most cases instructed by trained physiotherapists. Nevertheless, there are some exercises that can be performed well at home to maximize the success of the therapy. Here the training can be built up slowly from minimal stress until more intensive exercises can be performed.

For example, you can start by pulling the toes in the direction of the head while lying down or sitting. During the exercise the muscles are only slightly strained and are used without the influence of gravity. At the beginning, an additional person can support the movement with their hands if the patient cannot build up sufficient strength.

The increase of the exercise would be a performance from a standing position. The toes can initially be lifted slowly, while in the course of the exercise a faster drumming of the toes on the floor is aimed at. While sitting, the exercise can be intensified by using a latex band.

The foot is inserted into a loop and both ends are fastened. Now the toes can be pulled headwards against increased resistance. Another exercise is lifting objects with the toes. This not only strains the foot lifter but also the remaining muscles in the foot, which promotes stabilization. The heel strike is also a way to train the foot lifter, but is probably only possible at the end of the workout due to the muscles that have been built up by then.

Is weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot curable?

Whether an existing weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot can be cured depends strongly on the cause of the disorder. If the nerve has been irritated by pressure damage, the chances of complete healing are good. Such pressure damage can be caused, for example, by incorrect posture or incorrect positioning when lying down in bed.

A weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot in the context of a stroke has a worse prognosis with lower chances of recovery. Intensive training can often improve the function of the nerve and the affected muscles – but usually a weakness remains. However, by using aids such as functional electrostimulation (FES), a permanent deficit can be successfully compensated.

The lowest chances of recovery are in the case of direct mechanical (or traumatic/accidental) damage or destruction of nerve tissue. When nerves are severed, the treatment options are very limited and surgical interventions rarely lead to therapeutic success. Permanent functional impairment or even paralysis are the result.The different treatment options for weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot take different amounts of time.

In the case of pressure damage due to incorrect posture or incorrect positioning, the weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot can subside after only a few days if the nerve tissue has not suffered serious damage. However, if the muscles and nerve tissue first have to be trained again, this can take several weeks to months. Depending on the severity of the damage and thus also the weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot, the training program is adapted by the treating physicians and physiotherapists so that progress can be made as quickly as possible.

In some cases, the training has to be carried out for years in order to counteract a regression of the muscles. Splints (or orthoses) or functional electrostimulation (FES) are also long-term therapy measures, but these hardly lead to restrictions in the patients’ everyday life. It is also not uncommon for lost abilities to be regained after a long period of time through continuous and persistent training.