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Abstract Summary Foot DROP is a common lower extremity motor dysfunction in stroke patients, which not only causes deformity of the foot and affects the appearance, but also affects the patient’s standing, walking, and balance function to varying degrees after stroke (Sheng et al ., 2019). Splints are used to fix the ankle and foot to control position and motion of the ankle, to compensate for weakness, or to correct deformities for foot drop. It’s should be used by patient on regular basis while they exercise to walk. As this device helps to maintain natural pattern of gait by providing the support both in stance phase and swing phase in gait cycle during walking (Islam et al .,2018) It was recommended that stroke survivors should engage in low- to moderate-intensity aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening exercises. ( Evans et al .,2021). Undertaking strength training exercise is known to lead to increased muscle mass and improved muscle function (Milton et al .,2018). The aim of this study , general aim : to apply foot DROP splint and exercises for ischemic stroke patients and specific aim : evaluate the impact of foot splint and exercises application on foot DROP incidence among ischemic stroke patients . Quasi experimental (control and study ) research design was utilized to conduct this study . To accomplish the aim ; data was collected from neurological department at Assiut University Hospitals. The study included eighty adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with ischemic stroke . Their age range from 20 to 65 years. Collection of data lasted 8 months through the period from 1st June 2021 to 31th January 2022. The following tools were utilized for data collection Tool I: Patient’s assessment sheet ( part (1): personal data and part (2): clinical data ) , Tool II: Ankle and foot assessment Part (1): Foot and ankle disability index (FADI): Part (2): Muscle strength assessment scale. The main findings of the present study were: 1. The main age of patients in the study group was 58.30± 9.14 years old and in control group was 60.52± 6.02 years old , more than half of them were male in the study and control group. 2. The majority of patients were married in both study and control groups (90.0% , 95.0%), about half of them were able to read and write (45.0 % , 55.0% ) , highest percentage of patient were farmer (60.0% , 47.5% ) and lived in rural residence (67.5%, 67.5%) respectively. 3. The majority of patient in the study and control group complain from hypertension (70% , 80%) and more than half of them had left sided hemiplegia (55.0% , 57.5% ) respectively. 4. There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control group as regard to Achilles tendon score after implementing foot splint and exercises (p .value = *.0.001) post one month and six months . 5. There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control group as regard to muscle strength score after implementing foot splint and exercises (p. value = *.0.001) post one month and six months . 6. There was a statistically significant difference between the study and control group as regard to FADI total score after implementing foot splint and exercises ( p. value = *.0.001) post one month and six months. |