10/19/2025
As many of you know, my husband suffered a massive hemorrhagic stroke last September, leaving him with left-sided weakness in both his arm & leg.
One of his biggest challenges from that has been foot drop — which is when the muscles that lift your foot don’t activate properly.
That means his toes sometimes drag, he tends to trip more easily, his steps are a little uneven, & he even rolls his ankle due to weakness & sensory loss. Foot drop is incredibly common post-stroke & can really impact your confidence with movement.
We’ve tried probably 8 different AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses) before realizing that while some provide stability, others actually create long-term dependence & weakness.
That’s when we switched to the Bioness L300 Go about 6 months ago - and it’s been a total game changer for his confidence & our family! This device activates his peroneal nerve, helping lift his foot naturally during walking. For him, it’s meant smoother steps, fewer stumbles, and the ability to move with more freedom & feel comfortable enough to hold our toddler while walking around!!!
But here’s the thing — we don’t want to rely on it forever.
Our long-term goal is independence.
As a physical therapist (& wife), I’ve been working with him on rebuilding his anterior tibialis strength, controlling ankle inversion, reconnecting with his foot, ankle, & toes, and restoring that mind-body link that was disrupted by his stroke.
It’s been slow & humbling, but every toe wiggle & ankle movement is a victory - if you know, you know!!
Here are some of the key exercises we’ve been using to target his foot drop & rebuild that connection 👇🏼
1️⃣ KB Hip Flexor Lift with/without Bioness
2️⃣ Hip Flexor Rollback
3️⃣ Foot Lifts with/without Bioness
4️⃣ Lateral Band Walks
5️⃣ Banded Ankle Eversion
6️⃣ Big Toe Lifts
7️⃣ Toe Curls / Lifts
8️⃣ Ankle Eversion Lifts
As always, consult your healthcare provider before trying new exercises — and if you’re navigating foot drop or post-stroke rehab yourself, drop a comment below or reach out. You’re not alone in this journey. ❤️
