The peroneal nerve helps you feel sensations in front of your legs and is essential for dorsiflexing (lifting up your foot). If this nerve becomes injured, resulting in “foot drop”.
An extensive physical exam and diagnostic tests may help diagnose this condition, while treatment plans may include both non-invasive and surgical options.
Stretching
Injury to the peroneal nerve can produce various symptoms depending on its location and severity of damage. The deep peroneal nerve runs along the inside of your leg from your fibula and controls functions inside of your foot – including big toe and second toe function – including big toe and second toe function. On the other side of your leg lies superficial peroneal nerve running between knee and ankle bone which provides dorsi flexion ability, when injured it can prevent you from doing this and lead to “foot drop” gait where one knee lifts higher than expected when walking.
Stretching can help alleviate pain and improve movement in affected legs and feet, but only when performed correctly. Be careful when performing stretching exercises as bouncing may injure muscle fibers being stretched; held for more than 30 seconds increases risk of injury while decreasing flexibility.
Your doctor may suggest combining dynamic and static stretching exercises to increase mobility and relieve the strain on your peroneal nerve. Dynamic stretching involves increasing blood flow to muscles, softening them and making them less stiff; dynamic stretching is often used before exercise as preparation; static stretches allow muscles to relax back into their final positions after dynamic stretching has taken place.
Physical therapists can teach you proper stretching techniques tailored to your injury. They will demonstrate how to perform each stretch and provide guidance as to the duration and difficulty of each. You should never push too far; any pain indicates you have overextended yourself and should stop immediately.
Stretches that may assist with peroneal nerve injuries include the heel cord stretch, in which you extend the non-affected leg forward while bending your back knee while pulling on toes to flex ankle. Also effective is the golf ball roll – rolling around an object with round edges over your affected foot for two minutes until rolled away from sole and arch of affected foot.
Strengthening
Peroneal nerve runs from your glutes down the back of your thigh, around your knee and down both front and sides of the leg and foot to reach your feet. When injured, this nerve may lead to symptoms including numbness in parts of the foot, upper leg or outer part. Also drop foot could occur; your doctor can provide physical therapy and treatment plans in order to assist your recovery from peroneal nerve injury.
One common cause of peroneal nerve injury is a fractured fibula or dislocation of knee ligament. Other possible triggers for injury could include tight plaster casts or long-term constriction to lower leg, such as wearing high shoes. Other possible reasons could include repetitive stress from crossing legs repeatedly, falling on to one lateral knee during fall-on and pressure during deep sleep or coma which puts too much strain on it; any of which can permanently damage this important nerve.
Physical therapy is an effective solution for peroneal nerve injuries by targeting their source. Your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive clinical exam, including neurological exams, to evaluate your condition and uncover its source. In order to help recover from peroneal nerve injuries more quickly and reduce swelling quickly, your physical therapist may also utilize stretching, strengthening, mobilization manipulation proprioceptive balance exercises proprioceptive balance exercises proprioceptive balance exercises as well as ankle bracing or taping and ice to provide additional pain relief and reduce swelling.
Your doctor will also prescribe medications to manage your pain, corticosteroids to reduce swelling that could be impacting nerves, or surgery may be required to remove cysts or tumors pressing against peroneal nerves as well as correct fractures, dislocations or tendonitis.
Begin gradually increasing activity levels to avoid reinjuring any nerves or muscles near your injury site. If any problems develop with your peroneal nerve, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Mobilization
The common peroneal nerve, also known as the peroneal fibular nerve, is one of two major nerves in your lower leg. It provides sensation to areas including the front of the leg, tops of feet and lateral and anterior ankle areas as well as innervating and controlling muscles that raise feet upward when standing or walking; dorsi flexion movement. Any injuries to this nerve may lead to numbness, tingling or pain at various parts of your leg and ankle as well as weakness when raising toes upward.
Peroneal nerve injury typically presents as weakness when raising your toes, from mild to severe; this weakness could have its roots in sudden injuries, compression over time or as part of another health condition.
Physical exams can help identify whether you have experienced peroneal nerve injury. Your doctor will review a history of symptoms as well as perform an exam to assess your condition. Most importantly, palpation in this area often reproduces your symptoms to confirm the irritation is focused on this section of nerve and not related to another area like herniated disks or spinal stenosis in your lumbar spine.
Electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle activity and response to stimulation, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests with special sequences designed to highlight nerves can also provide diagnostic tools that allow your doctor to accurately pinpoint the source of peroneal nerve injuries and offer effective treatments.
Spinal manipulation combined with neurodynamic mobilization (NM) has been proven to be highly effective at alleviating peroneal nerve injury symptoms, improving function, and strengthening affected muscles.1 Two common techniques used during neurodynamic mobilization sessions are the supine lateral glide and cervical posterior flexor stretch.
Icing
Peroneal nerve injuries often manifest themselves with symptoms like tingling, pain and weakness in the area surrounding the injured nerve. They may even lead to foot drop syndrome when you can no longer raise your foot at the ankle when walking – this condition is caused by compression or damage to the peroneal nerve that runs along your fibula bone and controls function of both big and second toes in the foot – often as a result of playing sports, running or spending too long wearing high heels. It is not uncommon for people playing these activities or spending too long time wearing high heels causing these injuries!
Inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, as well as knee injuries or surgery can all contribute to peroneal nerve issues. Overuse, repetitive movements that involve flexion of the knee such as ballet or running, crossing legs for prolonged periods and having your legs crossed can all lead to nerve damage as well. People living with diabetes may be particularly susceptible to this type of injury as diabetes affects nerve conduction speed.
If you suspect a peroneal nerve injury, seek medical advice immediately to reduce any long-term damage. Your physician will assess your symptoms and run tests to diagnose the injury; these could include physical and neurological exams as well as nerve conduction studies or electromyography tests to measure electrical impulse speed through nerves and muscles; you could even receive an MRI to visualize both nerve and area around it.
Your doctor will determine the most appropriate treatment for your peroneal nerve injury depending on its severity. He or she may suggest ice packs and pain relievers; in more serious cases, surgery to repair, replace, or remove damaged nerves may be recommended – in other instances a surgeon will even graft another nerve in its place as an alternative solution.
