Foot drop is a frightening condition. The inability to lift the front part of the foot makes walking difficult. People have to drag their toes and lift their knees to propel movement, which results in the typical
“high-stepping gait”. The slow recovery—and often, irreversible damage—makes it even more daunting.
This condition can occur due to injury and spinal problems, or chronic alcohol dependence, which is a lesser-known but significant cause of foot drop. Long-term alcohol use often simultaneously damages the liver, disturbs metabolism and injures peripheral nerves. When this damage affects the nerves controlling ankle dorsiflexion, foot drop can result.
Recovery is usually slow and dependent on abstinence from alcohol, nutrition, and supportive therapies such as exercise, physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.
However, a recent experience at a holistic health centre, Arogyadhama at SVYASA, Bengaluru, demonstrated that an integrative approach that combined Yoga, Naturopathy and other therapies could accelerate the process of neuromuscular recovery.
According to the treating physicians at Arogyadhama, the recovery was remarkable, given the typically slow or limited prognosis associated with this condition.
When Liver Damage & Nerve Weakness Came Together
A 53-year-old man with a history of alcohol dependence presented with right-sided foot drop. Alongside his walking difficulty, routine investigations revealed significant liver dysfunction.
His liver enzymes were markedly elevated, indicating hepatic stress, and high bilirubin levels at 3.8 mg/dL suggested impaired liver function. Ferritin, a marker often elevated in chronic inflammation and liver disease, was also raised at 628 ng/mL.
Clinically, the neurological damage was clear— the patient could barely lift his right foot against gravity. Manual Muscle Testing showed ankle dorsiflexion strength at just 1 out of 5. He was unable to walk on his heels and displayed an altered gait pattern during a standard walking assessment. These findings confirmed a significant peripheral neuropathy affecting the muscles responsible for foot control.
Integrative Therapy Application
Instead of relying on a single mode of therapy, an integrative programme was planned. It included:
• A combination of Yoga practices for neurological rehabilitation, tailored to improve circulation, neuromuscular activation, and metabolic balance
• Breathing exercises and Pranayama
• Physiotherapy and acupuncture
• Naturopathy treatment including packs and massages for detoxification and stimulating circulation. This also included Athapa Snana, a naturopathy treatment involving banana-leaf wrapping after oil massage, and sun exposure
• A naturopathy diet focussed largely on boiled vegetables, soups and whole grains to aid recovery
The intervention lasted two weeks, after which clinical improvement was evident. Naturopathy treatment continued twice weekly for one month.
Faster-Than-Expected Recovery
The results were striking. By the end of two weeks, the patient demonstrated complete resolution of foot drop.
Muscle strength in ankle dorsiflexion improved to a full 5 out of 5. He could walk normally on his heels, and his gait pattern returned to normal during walking tests.
Equally significant were the biochemical changes. At one-month follow-up, Bilirubin levels had returned to normal (0.7 mg/dL). Liver enzymes that were alarmingly high had dropped dramatically, and Ferritin levels had also reduced. The patient reported improved energy levels.
What Explains the Improvement?
According to physicians at SVYASA Arogyadhama, the recovery can be attributed to a combination of factors. They explain that Yoga-based therapy addresses issues at the mind-body level. Awareness is the key differentiating factor compared with other forms of exercise and therapies.
Yoga, they add, creates awareness, trains the mind, and helps control emotions. This empowers patients at a deep level, making them participants in their healing.
Each case of foot drop is different and recovery depends on several factors. However, this case shows that Yoga-based holistic healing can offer recovery and return to good health, especially in situations when neurological and lifestyle factors coexist.
Note: Recovery from foot drop can vary widely depending on cause and severity, and such results may not be generalisable.
(The author is a journalist, cancer survivor and certified yoga teacher. She can be reached at swatikamal@gmail.com)
