Foot Dropaccording to TCM

What is Foot Drop?

Foot drop is a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the forefoot happens due to weakness, irritation, or damage to the common fibular nerve including the sciatic nerve, or paralysis of the muscles in the anterior portion of the lower leg. It is characterized by an inability to lift the front part of the foot, which can cause the foot to drag on the ground while walking.

In medical terms, this symptom is known as a steppage gait because individuals with foot drop may raise their thigh when walking, as if climbing stairs, to allow the foot to clear the ground. This condition can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause.

How Does TCM View Foot Drop?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, foot drop is often seen as a disharmony within the body's Qi, or vital energy. The condition is not viewed as an isolated neurological issue but rather as a symptom of an underlying imbalance.

TCM practitioners may assess foot drop in terms of Deficiencies or Stagnation in the body’s meridians—the pathways through which Qi flows. Treatment would focus on restoring the smooth flow of Qi and strengthening the body's vital energy to improve muscle function and address the root of the foot drop.

Acupoints for Foot Drop

Acupuncture, a key modality in TCM, involves stimulating specific points on the body to correct imbalances of Qi. For foot drop, the acupoint Jiexi ST-41 on the Stomach Channel is significant; it is believed to clear Stomach Heat, which can be metaphorically understood as reducing inflammation or irritation contributing to nerve impairment.

Additionally, Lanwei EX-LE-7 is another critical point often utilized to promote Qi and Blood circulation, which in TCM theory helps to nourish and repair the affected muscles and nerves. By activating these points, a TCM practitioner aims to enhance the body's natural healing processes and ameliorate the symptoms of foot drop.

Explore below some acupoints used to address foot drop, organized by meridian.

Jiexi ST-41

At the junction of the dorsum of the foot and leg, between the tendons of extensor digitorum and the extensor hallucis longus muscle. Approximately at the level of the tip of the external malleolus.

Lanwei EX-LE-7

On the Stomach Channel of the right leg, Lanwei EX-LE-7 is about 2 cun distal to Zusanli ST-36, in the most tender point of that area.