The Health & Fitness Show with Tracy - Podcast
The Health & Fitness Show with Tracy is your source of practical, uplifting, and science-rooted guidance for living a stronger, safer, and more confident life — at any age.
Hosted by Tracy Markley, internationally recognized fitness educator, award-winning author, stroke recovery specialist, and creator of the bestselling books The Stroke Recovery Workbook, Brain & Body, and Balance Walking and Fall Prevention, this podcast blends expertise with heart. Tracy’s decades of experience helping stroke survivors, seniors, and everyday adults rebuild strength, balance, mobility, and hope shine through every episode.
Whether you’re looking to improve your proprioception, feel steadier on your feet, better understand your body, prevent falls, recover from injury, or simply age with power and grace, this show gives you real tools — not fluff. Tracy brings compassion, clear explanations, and encouraging motivation to help you feel capable, empowered, and ready to move forward.
🎧 Tune in for:
- Balance, gait, and fall-prevention tips
- Stroke recovery insights from one of the most trusted voices in the field
- Fitness and mobility guidance for seniors and pre-seniors
- Brain–body education and nervous system support
- Strength training, walking programs, and functional movement
- Real stories from people who regained independence and confidence
- Encouragement, mindset support, and realistic strategies you can use today
- Hearing loss
- Fitness and exercise for all ages
- Muscles, joints, ligaments, fascia and more
- and much more
⭐ Learn More & Stay Connected
Website: https://www.tracymarkley.com
Books by Tracy Markley: https://www.amazon.com/author/tracymarkley
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@TracyMarkley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracy.markley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyfitt
⭐ Your Host
Tracy Markley is a fitness trainer, educator, and author known for blending anatomy, neuroscience, and compassion to help others move better and live better. Her work has transformed lives around the world — from stroke survivors rebuilding mobility to adults who simply want their body to feel like home again
The Health & Fitness Show with Tracy - Podcast
Understanding Leg Stability & Foot Drop After Stroke
Leg stabilization and foot drop are just two of the most challenging issues stroke survivors face — and understanding them is essential for improving walking gait and daily movement.
In this episode, stroke recovery specialist and author Tracy L. Markley offers deeper insight into why foot drop occurs, how leg muscles coordinate during walking, and what survivors need to know about alignment, proprioception, and brain–body communication to move safely and confidently.
Building on her well-known book,
“Stroke Recovery: Leg Stability and Walking Gait,”
Tracy explains the role of the hips, ankles, toes, and lower-leg muscles in lifting the foot, controlling stride, and maintaining balance. She also discusses why some survivors experience knee hyperextension, dragging, toe catching, or instability during walking — and what knowledge can help them begin improving these challenges.
This episode provides encouragement, clarity, and practical understanding for survivors, caregivers, and professionals who want to better support recovery.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
- Why foot drop happens after a stroke
- How leg stabilization affects every step in the walking cycle
- The critical muscles involved in lifting the foot
- Why alignment, core strength, and hip stability matter
- How brain–body communication influences walking patterns
- Common gait challenges survivors experience
- Why understanding the leg’s anatomy improves safety and progress
- Hopeful, practical education for continued recovery
Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, or working in stroke rehabilitation, this episode brings empowering knowledge to help support long-term progress.
🌐 LEARN MORE FROM TRACY
Website: www.tracymarkley.com
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/tracymarkley
Instagram: www.instagram.com/motivate_healthyfit