Foot drop (or drop foot) means it is hard to lift the front of your foot and toes. You may catch your toes or trip as you walk. It usually affects one foot.
The NHS and HSE say the most common cause is an injury to a nerve in the leg. This nerve controls the muscles that lift the foot. That nerve can be pressed on by crossing your legs, kneeling or squatting for a long time, or injured by sport or surgery. A slipped disc in the lower back is another common cause. Foot drop can get better on its own or with treatment, but sometimes it is permanent.
Foot drop on its own is a reason to see your GP, not usually an emergency. But it is a sign of something else, so it always needs checking. Some combinations of symptoms need help the same day or an ambulance. They are listed below.
Call 112 or 999 (Ireland), 999 (UK) or 911 (US) if foot drop or leg weakness comes with:
The NHS and HSE say these back-related symptoms could mean a serious back problem that needs hospital treatment as soon as possible. Do not drive yourself.
Get an urgent GP appointment (in the UK, NHS 111) if you have tingling or numbness in both feet and hands followed by weakness that is spreading over days. This can be a sign of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which needs urgent hospital treatment.
See a GP if you find it difficult to lift the front part of your foot and toes.
Foot drop happens when the muscles that lift the foot become weak or stop working. The US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describes what happens next:
Foot drop can affect one foot or both. NINDS stresses that it is a sign of another health problem, not a diagnosis in itself. The aim is to find where along the nerve pathway the problem is.
The nerve that lifts the foot is called the common peroneal (or common fibular) nerve. NINDS says it can be damaged near the knee, for example by crossing your legs at the knees for long periods. One 2026 study calls peroneal nerve compression the most common trapped nerve in the leg. It usually happens at the top of the fibula, the thin bone on the outside of the lower leg, just below the knee.
The NHS and HSE list these common triggers:
Rapid weight loss is a less well-known trigger. Case reports describe foot drop after weight-loss surgery, and after fast weight loss on weight-loss injections, often combined with habitual leg crossing. These are small case series, so the size of the risk is unknown. In these reports, most people recovered within months, some after surgery to free the nerve. If you have lost a lot of weight quickly and notice foot drop, tell your doctor about the weight loss.
NINDS says people whose foot drop comes from trauma or nerve damage often recover partly or completely.
A slipped disc in the lower back can press on a nerve root that helps lift the foot. This often comes with back pain and sciatica, a pain that runs down the leg. NINDS also lists spinal stenosis, where the spine narrows and puts pressure on nerves.
Most sciatica is managed with exercise, painkillers and physiotherapy. But some symptoms with back pain or sciatica need emergency care (see the box above). The HSE says spine surgery may be an option if foot drop is caused by nerve compression in the spine.
The NHS and HSE list peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes as a common cause. The NHS says diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy in the UK. Neuropathy often starts with numbness, tingling or burning in the feet, and can cause weakness, especially in the feet. Our guides to numb or burning feet and pins and needles cover these causes.
The NHS and HSE list these less common causes:
NINDS notes that foot drop caused by a progressive brain or nerve disease is more likely to be permanent.
Doctors use the pattern of symptoms to work out where the problem is. These are broad clues, not a way to diagnose yourself:
The NHS and HSE say a GP will examine your leg and foot and watch how you walk. Expect questions such as:
Your GP may refer you to a specialist to find the cause. Our guide to getting referred to a neurologist in Ireland explains how that works. The HSE says tests can include:
Our guide to nerve conduction studies and EMG explains what those tests involve.
The NHS and HSE say treatment depends on the cause and how long you have had foot drop. Sometimes it gets better on its own. Common treatments include:
Foot drop raises the risk of tripping and falling. The NHS and HSE suggest:
If you often cross your legs, stopping is a simple first step. In the weight-loss case reports, avoiding leg crossing was part of treatment.
Not usually on its own. The NHS and HSE advise seeing a GP. It becomes an emergency if it comes with stroke signs. The same applies with back pain plus numbness around the genitals or bottom, bladder or bowel problems, or weakness in both legs.
It can, depending on the cause. The NHS says it can get better on its own and with treatment, but sometimes it is permanent. NINDS says people whose foot drop comes from trauma or nerve damage often recover partly or completely.
Yes. The NHS and HSE list crossing your legs, kneeling or squatting for long periods as causes. This presses on the nerve near the knee.
Yes. The NHS and HSE list a slipped disc as a common cause. Get emergency help if you also have numbness around your genitals or bottom, or new bladder or bowel problems.
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you the cause of your symptoms. If you find it hard to lift the front of your foot, see your GP.
Reviewed by: Proco Team
Last updated: November 2026