Movement and muscles
Falls and unsteadiness
Trips, stumbles and falls, often because a weakening leg or foot no longer clears the ground reliably.
Still being checked
What this is
A foot that no longer lifts cleanly, or a leg that gives way, catches on thresholds, rugs and stairs, and that is why so much of what helps is about changing the environment and getting the right aid slightly earlier than it feels necessary. Falls can have other causes too, including dizziness and medicines, so it is worth telling your team what happened rather than assuming it was the weakness.
What people often describe
- Catching a toe on a threshold, a rug edge or the stairs
- A knee that gives way without warning
- Feeling less confident on uneven ground or in the dark
- Near misses that did not become falls, which are the ones worth reporting
Important distinctions
Foot drop is the word for difficulty lifting the front of the foot, so the toes catch. It is behind many of these trips, and moving about safely covers more than that alone.
Stiffness changes how you walk and can contribute to falls, but it is a different problem with different management.
What may help
This page lists options that are used for this problem and says where each one comes from. It is not a ranking, it is not a recommendation, and it is not personalised to you. What suits you is a decision for you and your care team.
Practical and self-management
Things people do themselves, or with whoever is helping them.
Allied health
What a therapist can assess, teach or adjust.
Equipment
Devices and physical aids.
When to get this looked at sooner
A fall, or a fall causing injury, is one of the changes worth raising between appointments rather than waiting for the next one.
Who may help
Where Compass explains this
Questions
- How can I reduce the risk of falls at home?
- How do I keep moving safely and stay independent?
- What mobility aids and equipment might help, and when?
- What changes help, and where do I start?
Cards
Related
Other problems
Words explained
About this page
This page lists options that are used for this problem and says where each one comes from. It is not a ranking, it is not a recommendation, and it is not personalised to you. What suits you is a decision for you and your care team.
Evidence for this page
The sources behind the statements on this page, and where to find them. Compass does not decide which option is right for anyone.
Statement 1 of 4. Loose rugs, clutter, poor lighting, thresholds and unsupportive footwear are the things people actually trip on, and all of them can be changed.
Supports this. NEALS PT/OT guide — NEALS · Practical guide
A physical and occupational therapy guide for ALS states plainly that preventing a fall is the best available treatment for one.
“In the case of falling, prevention is the best treatment.”
FALL PREVENTIONLink checked August 2026
Statement 2 of 4. A stick, rail or rollator, and the timing matters: an aid brought in early is doing prevention rather than catching up.
Supports this. Mobility and ALS — Your ALS Guide · Practical guide
A practical guide on mobility in ALS makes the timing point directly: the right device at the right time helps prevent falls and the injuries that follow them.
“Getting the right device at the right time can help prevent falls and avoid injuries that could lead to additional complications.”
Mobility and ALSLink checked August 2026
Statement 3 of 4. A brace that holds the front of the foot up, so it clears the ground. Many people with ALS/MND need one at some point.
Supports this. Guidelines for the physiotherapy management of MND — Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association · Clinical guideline · 2014
An MND physiotherapy guideline states that many patients will require an ankle-foot orthosis.
“Many patients will require an ankle foot orthosis (AFO).”
Section 3.4b.1 Recommendations, item MLink checked August 2026
Statement 4 of 4. A fall, or a fall causing injury, is one of the changes worth raising between appointments rather than waiting for the next one.
Supports this. NICE MND guideline — NICE · Clinical guideline
Republished from the Compass answer "How do I know when to ask for help?", where this statement is already mapped to this source.
“Ensure arrangements are in place to trigger an earlier multidisciplinary team assessment if there is a significant change in symptoms identified by the person, family members and/or carers (as appropriate), or healthcare professionals.”
1.5.7Link checked August 2026