Resting a foot or ankle problem can help it heal. However, it is hard to rest a foot while still carrying on with normal activities. Walking boots allow your foot to relax as you walk around and do your normal day-to-day activities. There are other uses for walkers than fractures.
Walking boots for foot and ankle injuries
In addition to walking boots, you may hear them referred to as cast boots, Aircast boots, medical boots, walking casts, and fracture boots. Using walkers is usually part of a treatment plan that includes more than just walking.
Walking boot for plantar fasciitis
As a treatment for Plantar Fasciitis, walking boots reduce tension on the plantar fascia, allowing the fascia to rest and heal. This is often the only thing that protects the area enough to heal while allowing the patient to walk. Furthermore, it can relieve heel pressure.
How long does it take to wear it? The boot is usually worn by patients with plantar fasciitis for 7 - 14 days, depending on the severity of their symptoms. Tall or Short Boot? Either way is fine. There is a greater level of comfort.
Ball of foot pain walking boot (metatarsalgia, neuroma, sesamoiditis)
The sole's rocker aspect makes cast boots effective for treating foot pain under the ball. Pressure studies show that the rocker dramatically reduces pressure under the foot's ball. It is important to reduce stress here to give the tissue a chance to rest and heal. How long does it take to wear it? The boot is usually worn for seven days by patients suffering from the ball of foot pain.
Tall or Short Boot? Either one is fine. Most people feel more comfortable wearing tall boots since they don't irritate their shins. In the case of being short, you might want to consider using a fast walker boot.
Walking Boot for Sprained Ankle
The healing of injured ligaments can begin when the ankle is immobilized in a cast boot for two weeks following an ankle sprain. Our initial treatment for ankle sprains is to put the patient in a boot. You should see a podiatrist right away.
How long to wear it? Follow an ankle sprain by wearing a medical walking boot for at least two weeks.
Tall or Short Boot? For ankle sprains, always wear a tall boot. Short ones need to protect their ankles adequately.
Walking boot for a metatarsal stress fracture
An immobilization boot should always be worn to treat metatarsal stress fractures. The healing process of metatarsal stress fractures is accelerated and improved when they are immobilized. It is easiest to use a medical boot for this purpose. See a doctor if you suspect you have a stress fracture.
How long does it take to wear it? Boots are typically worn by our patients for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on their fracture type. If you're ready to remove the boot, you should get an x-ray and talk to a doctor.
Tall or Short Boot? You should always wear a tall boot if you have a metatarsal fracture. This is necessary as many muscles attach to the metatarsal region through the leg. You should immobilize those muscles to limit the foot's motion due to a stress fracture.
Walking boot for toe fractures
There is too often a myth that a toe fracture cannot be treated. There is no truth to this. Immobilizing toe fractures will help them heal faster and better. Fracture boots make this easy.
How long does it take to wear it? There is a possibility that you will be in a boot for 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of fracture. It will be up to a doctor to decide if you are ready to come out of the boot after you have had an x-ray.
Tall or Short Boot? For toe fractures, always wear a walker tall boot. It is necessary to do this since many of the muscles attaching to the toes begin in the upper leg. By immobilizing those muscles, you can limit the motion of a fractured toe.
Walking boot for foot fracture / broken foot
Various foot fractures exist, and each may require a different treatment. For this reason, we always recommend seeing a doctor for foot fracture treatment.
How long does it take to wear it? Consult a doctor first since the length of time will depend on the type of injury. Depending on the severity of the condition, it could take anywhere from three weeks to eight weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions about how long to wear it.
Tall or Short Boot? A foot fracture can be treated best with tall boots since they immobilize the foot and the leg muscles attached to it.
Walking boot for ankle fractures
If you have an ankle fracture, you shouldn't try to treat it yourself. Ideally, you should see a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon about this issue.
How long does it take to wear it? Consult a doctor first since the length of time will depend on the type of injury. The process is not guaranteed to take less than three weeks or more than eight weeks. Until your doctor tells you otherwise, wear it.
Tall or Short Boot? For ankle fractures, always use a tall pneumatic boot. The air bladders of this type can expand to provide extra support.
Walking boot for posterior tibial tendonitis and peroneal tendonitis
A walking boot helps to reduce tension on the tendons so that healing can begin.
How long does it take to wear it? Most of our patients typically wear the boot for 10 to 14 days.
Tall or Short Boot? If you suffer from tendonitis, you should wear a tall walking boot. The muscles in the leg begin high up, so the boot must reach as high as possible to provide the greatest amount of rest to these muscles.
Walking boot for children's heel pain
Children with severe disease (inflamed growth plate) often require a boot for a week or two to allow the foot to rest and heal.
How long does it take to wear it? Children typically wear the boot for about seven days when they suffer heel pain.
Tall or Short Boot? It doesn't matter. It does not irritate the shins for most kids to wear tall walker boots.
How to wear walking boots comfortably
You must keep your legs even
If you want to wear a walking boot comfortably, you should wear a shoe the same height as your walking boot on the other foot. A running shoe's heel must often be higher than the forefoot to work well. Adding a heel lift to many shoes will be necessary.
A cane can help when used correctly.
It can reduce 30 - 40% of the force you put on the injured side if you use a cane in the opposite hand while wearing a boot to protect your injured limb. It can significantly reduce pain and allow you to move more comfortably.
Incorrect use of canes often occurs when the cane rests on the side of the injury. Canes should be held in your opposite hand and moved forward along with your injured foot. The cane and boot should both be hitting the ground simultaneously if you're in a boot.
An injury can be very painful the first week or two after it occurs, so a cane can greatly assist.