Six athletes who play sport at the highest level in the world with a foot drop

Can I do sport with my foot drooping?

Playing sports with a foot drop is entirely possible. However, you must adapt the choice of sport according to your deficit and refer to the recommendations of the various health professionals consulted.

Many sports are accessible to people with foot drop. Here we will see some examples of athletes who practice their sport wearing a foot lifter (also known as Ankle-Foot-Orthosis -AFO-) and one example of an athlete wearing a pair of Knee-Ankle-Foot-Orthoses (KAFOs).

Cheryl Hile: Runner suffering from Multiple Sclerosis  

Cheryl⁽¹⁾ has always loved to run marathons. But in October 2006, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The symptoms, specifically her fatigable foot drop, quickly halted her running ability due to increasing falls. In February 2008, Cheryl met with an orthotist to get assessed for an Ankle-Foot-Orthosis (AFO). Just two months later, in April 2008, Cheryl ran the Boston Marathon.  For over ten years, Cheryl has completed numerous marathons wearing an AFO. In September 2019, she set a record of becoming the first person with Multiple Sclerosis to run 7 marathons on 7 continents in 12 months.

Alex Smith: Quarterback who had a potentiall career ending injury

Alex Smith⁽²⁾ is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL).  In 2018, Alex Smith sustained a serious leg injury. During one of his 17 surgeries to repair his leg, his peroneal nerve was removed, causing him to lose the ability to lift his foot. After that surgery, although he was never expected to play again, after two years, a lengthy rehabilitation process and the use of custom ankle foot orthoses, Alex officially made his comeback as Washington's starter midway through the season, leading the team to a division title and earning him NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Letchen DuPlessis : CrossFit® athlete with CRPS

Let chen⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ was on a scholarship as a student playing netball in South Africa. During a training session, she dislocated her hip, which resulted in a torn labrum. Six weeks after a surgery to fix her hip, she realized that she had also developed foot drop. She was diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) when she developed symptoms of weakness and intense spams. With the help of an AFO (Ankle-Foot-Orthosis), she was able to walk again. She wants to live an active lifestyle, and CrossFit®  training seemed like a perfect fit for this goal. In 2020, she competed in and won the neuromuscular division of the CrossFit® Open in South Africa. Since then, she has competed every year and has become a CrossFit^® champion.

Jamie McAnsh: Climber of mountain with CRPS

In January 2014, the life of Jamie McAnsh⁽⁷⁾⁽⁸⁾ changed dramatically when he woke up paralysed from the waist down due to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). He chooses to embark on a journey of incredible achievements. He achieves some of them, for example, in representing Wales in wheelchair rugby. He was the first person living with CRPS to reach Everest Base Camp. Using KAFOs, he has begun to take on other challenges. For example, he became the first person with CRPS to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro in August 2024.

Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua: Basketball player who suffered an ACL injury

Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua^(9)(10) is a Baylor University basketball player who suffered a terrible injury that led to nerve damage. Indeed, on February 12, 2022, a tear in the anterior, medial and lateral cruciate ligaments as well as nerve damage prevented Tchamwa Tchatchoua Jonathan from lifting his foot. This injury did not stop Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua 's university career, he continued to play on his team wearing an AFO.

Foot drop syndrome is not an obstacle to movement

These few examples show that it is possible to move even in extreme ways with a foot drop. Other daily sports can be done such as going to work by bike. When you have foot drop, and you want to participate in sports or physically activity, it is important to consult a health professional who can access your suitability for muscle strengthening and stretching exercises with a physiotherapist in conjunction with the wearing of an orthosis. The management of foot drop involves a multidisciplinary team approach to ensure your health and sports and physical needs are assessed holistically.