If you catch your toes on the pavement, trip on stairs you have climbed a thousand times, or find yourself lifting your knee unnaturally high just to clear the ground when you walk, you may be living with foot drop. It is a frustrating condition, not because it is rare, but because so few people are told there is a brace built specifically to let them walk, run and climb stairs again without compromise. The Turbomed brace is one of those options, and at Premier Clinic in Blackburn, our podiatry and physiotherapy team fit and assess patients for it as part of a wider approach to mobility and rehabilitation.

This guide explains what foot drop is, how the Turbomed brace works, who it tends to suit, and what to expect if you come to our clinic on Lions Drive for an assessment.

What Is Foot Drop and What Causes It?

Foot drop is the inability to lift the front part of your foot and toes properly when you walk. It happens when the muscles that pull your foot upward are weakened or affected by nerve damage. According to the NHS, the most common cause is an injury to a nerve running down the leg that controls those muscles, though the underlying reason varies a great deal from person to person.

People with foot drop often develop a “steppage gait,” where the knee is lifted higher than normal to stop the toes catching the ground. Over time this changes posture, increases fall risk, and puts strain on the hip and lower back on the affected side.

Common Causes of Foot Drop

Cause What Is Happening
Peroneal nerve injury Compression or damage to the nerve as it passes near the knee, often from prolonged crossed legs, a cast, or trauma
Stroke Nerve signal disruption between the brain and leg muscles
Multiple sclerosis Damage to nerve pathways affecting coordination between brain and ankle
Lumbar radiculopathy A pinched nerve root in the lower spine, often linked to a slipped disc
Charcot Marie Tooth disease An inherited condition affecting peripheral nerves
Post surgical nerve irritation Temporary or lasting nerve involvement following hip, knee or spinal surgery
Diabetes related neuropathy Long term nerve damage affecting sensation and muscle control in the feet

If you notice new or worsening foot drop, this should always be assessed by a GP or specialist first, since it is usually a sign of an underlying condition that needs proper diagnosis.

What Is the Turbomed Brace?

The Turbomed brace is a type of ankle foot orthosis, commonly shortened to AFO. Unlike traditional AFOs, which sit inside the shoe against the skin, the Turbomed is fitted to the outside of the shoe. This single design choice solves two problems that patients frequently raise with conventional braces: skin irritation from rubbing, and the bulk of trying to fit a brace and a normal shoe together.

How the Turbomed Brace Works

The brace uses a spring loaded hinge mechanism that sits against the back of the calf and clips onto the shoe near the heel. As you walk, the spring lifts the front of the foot during the swing phase of your stride, so your toes clear the ground naturally instead of catching or dragging.

Importantly, the mechanism is designed to allow a much fuller range of ankle motion than many rigid braces. As explained on our Turbomed brace service page, the design does not block the ankle from moving upward or downward the way many other AFOs do, which is part of why patients often find it more comfortable on slopes, stairs and uneven ground.

Because it clips onto the outside of the shoe rather than being built into it, the same brace can generally be moved between different pairs of shoes, which matters for anyone who wants to wear the same brace with trainers one day and boots the next.

Turbomed Brace vs Traditional AFO Braces

Feature Turbomed Brace Traditional Rigid AFO
Fitting position Outside the shoe Inside the shoe, against the skin
Ankle movement Allows natural plantarflexion and dorsiflexion Often restricts ankle movement to stabilise the joint
Skin contact Minimal, reduces rubbing and skin breakdown Direct contact, higher risk of irritation
Switching shoes Can generally be moved between suitable shoes Usually built for one pair of shoes
Best suited to Active patients wanting to walk, hike or run Patients needing maximum joint stabilisation
Visibility Sits outside the shoe, more visible Hidden inside the shoe

Neither option is universally “better.” Which brace suits you depends on the cause and severity of your foot drop, your activity level, and what your assessment shows.

Who Is the Turbomed Brace Suitable For?

Because it prioritises range of motion and comfort during activity, the Turbomed brace tends to suit patients who:

  • Have mild to moderate foot drop from a peroneal nerve injury, stroke, MS, or a spinal nerve issue
  • Want to stay active, including walking, hiking, gym work or light running
  • Have struggled with rubbing, blistering or skin breakdown from a traditional AFO
  • Move between different types of footwear regularly, such as trainers, work boots or walking boots
  • Have reasonably preserved ankle stability and do not require maximum rigid support

It is generally less suitable for patients with significant ankle instability, severe spasticity, or a foot and ankle deformity that needs a fully customised, moulded brace. This is exactly why an in person assessment matters rather than ordering a brace based on a diagnosis alone. Two people with the same underlying condition can have very different biomechanics, and the right brace has to match the individual, not just the label.

Benefits of the Turbomed Brace for Everyday Life

Patients who are fitted appropriately often notice practical, day to day differences rather than dramatic ones:

Fewer trips and stumbles. By lifting the toes during the swing phase of walking, the brace reduces the catching and dragging that causes falls.

More natural movement on stairs and slopes. Because the hinge allows the ankle to move rather than locking it rigid, many patients find uneven ground, kerbs and stairs noticeably easier to manage.

Comfort over longer periods. Sitting outside the shoe means less direct skin contact, which matters for anyone who has previously given up on a brace because of soreness or blistering.

Flexibility across footwear. Being able to move the brace between shoes suits people who need to wear safety boots for work, then trainers for the rest of the day.

Confidence to stay active. For many patients, the biggest benefit is not medical, it is being able to keep walking the dog, get back to the gym, or manage a hike without foot drop dictating the plan.

What to Expect at Your Turbomed Brace Assessment at Premier Clinic

If you come to Premier Clinic in Blackburn for a Turbomed brace assessment, the process is built around understanding your walking pattern before fitting anything.

Step 1: Assessment and history. Our team will ask about the cause and duration of your foot drop, any previous bracing you have tried, and what activities matter most to you, whether that is walking the dog, getting back to work, or returning to sport.

Step 2: Gait and biomechanical review. We look at how you walk, where your foot catches or drags, and how your ankle, knee and hip are compensating. This is often combined with our wider biomechanics assessment approach, since foot drop rarely affects the ankle in isolation.

Step 3: Fitting. The brace is fitted to your own footwear where possible, so you can feel the difference in your actual walking pattern rather than a generic in clinic shoe.

Step 4: Review and adjustment. Bracing is rarely perfect on day one. We check comfort, fit and function, and make adjustments as needed.

Step 5: Ongoing support. Because foot drop is often linked to a wider condition, our team can coordinate the brace alongside physiotherapy or podiatry care where that is appropriate, rather than treating the brace as a standalone fix.

Turbomed Brace vs Other Foot Drop Treatments in Blackburn

Treatment Option What It Involves Best For
Turbomed brace External, hinged AFO fitted outside the shoe Active patients wanting mobility and comfort
Traditional rigid AFO Internal, moulded brace fitted inside the shoe Patients needing maximum stabilisation
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) Small electrical impulses stimulate the nerve to lift the foot Patients suited to nerve stimulation rather than bracing
Physiotherapy and strengthening Targeted exercise to improve muscle control and gait Mild cases or as a complement to bracing
Custom orthotics Insoles addressing alignment rather than the drop itself Supporting biomechanics alongside a brace

These approaches are not mutually exclusive. Many of our patients use a Turbomed brace alongside a structured physiotherapy programme, since strengthening work and bracing support different parts of the same problem.

Why Choose Premier Clinic for Your Turbomed Brace in Blackburn

Premier Clinic is based on Lions Drive, Shadsworth Business Park in Blackburn, BB1, and serves patients across Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and the wider Lancashire area. A few things shape how we approach foot drop and bracing specifically:

HCPC registered clinicians. Our podiatry and physiotherapy team are registered professionals, so assessments are grounded in a proper clinical evaluation rather than a generic fitting.

Multidisciplinary care under one roof. Because foot drop often sits alongside a wider neurological or musculoskeletal condition, having podiatry, physiotherapy and rehabilitation support in one clinic means your brace is not treated in isolation from the rest of your recovery.

A personal, unhurried approach. Bracing decisions are rarely one size fits all, and we would rather take the time to get the fit and function right than rush a patient into a brace that ends up in a drawer within a month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Turbomed brace available on the NHS?

Availability varies by area and is usually assessed through NHS orthotics or neurology services. Many patients choose a private assessment, such as at Premier Clinic, for faster access, a wider choice of brace options, or when NHS provision does not suit their needs.

Can I wear the Turbomed brace with my own shoes?

In many cases, yes. The brace is designed to fit onto the outside of a shoe rather than being built into one, so it can often be moved between suitable pairs, though this depends on the shoe type and will be confirmed at your fitting.

Will the brace stop my foot drop from getting worse?

A brace supports your walking pattern and reduces the risk of trips and falls, but it does not treat the underlying cause. If your foot drop is linked to a condition such as MS or a spinal issue, ongoing management of that condition matters alongside bracing.

How long does it take to get used to wearing it?

Most patients need a short adjustment period, often a couple of weeks of regular wear, before the brace feels natural. Our team will check in during this period and make adjustments if anything feels wrong.

Is the Turbomed brace suitable for running or sport?

For many patients with mild to moderate foot drop, yes, the design is intended to support more active movement than a rigid brace typically allows. Suitability depends on your individual assessment, so this is confirmed on a case by case basis rather than assumed from the diagnosis alone.

Getting Started

Foot drop can feel like it quietly shrinks your world, fewer walks, more caution on stairs, constant awareness of where your foot is about to catch. A well fitted brace will not remove the underlying cause, but for the right patient it can hand back a lot of that confidence.

If you are in Blackburn or the wider Lancashire area and want to know whether the Turbomed brace is right for your situation, contact Premier Clinic on 01254 677341 or request an appointment with our podiatry and physiotherapy team.