Background: Foot-drop in stroke patients usually occurs because the muscles that lift the foot are weakened by the neural system impairment. Foot drop splints and physical exercise are important to manage foot drop patients after stroke for safe and efficient walking. Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of foot splint and exercises session on foot drop and muscle strengthening among patients with stroke. Design: Quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. Setting: The current study was conducted in the neurological department at Port said University Hospital. Subjects: A purposive sample of 100 ischemic stroke patients was recruited for the study, and was assigned into two groups, with 50 ischemic stroke patients in each group (the study and control groups). Tools for data collection; Tool (1): Patient's interview questionnaire; Tool (2): Foot and ankle disability index (FADI) (pre/post), and Tool (3): muscle strength assessment scale (pre/post). Results:The results revealed that (84%) of the study group and (88%) of the control group were of the same age from 40-≤ 60 groups with a mean age (55.23 ± 7.02) (56.61 ± 4.45) respectively, (68%) were males. There was a statistically significant difference in the FADI scale total score among ischemic stroke patients within the study and control group post one month and three months post-implementation. There was a statistically significant difference in muscle strength scores among the study and control groups post one month and three months of implementation with an improvement in the level of muscle strength among the study group and then control group after implementation of foot splint and exercises. Conclusion: The application of a foot splint and exercises session has a positive effect on decreasing foot drop disability and improving muscle strengthening among patients with stroke. Recommendation: We recommend foot splints and exercises should be engaged in a rehabilitation program for patients with stroke to decrease disability associated with foot drop and improve muscle strengthening.
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