People with a weak foot lift must concentrate intensely to avoid tripping. Even the slightest unevenness in the ground becomes a hazard. The nearly automatic process of “walking” presents those affected with a challenge for , one they must perform consciously. This comes at the expense of their awareness of their surroundings. Very often, with foot drop, the foot does not strike the ground with the heel first when stepping, but rather with the forefoot or the entire sole of the foot. The natural rolling motion of the foot and the forward swing of the leg are no longer possible with foot drop. The person becomes tense and walks abnormally, sometimes even with curled toes.
The leg is swung forward through a circular hip movement (circumduction). Over time, people who move this way often complain of pain in the hip and pelvis.
