Can I walk in my boot? Your clinician will instruct how much, and when, weight is to be put through the injured limb during your appointment. This may gradually increase over a period of time and be pain- dependant. No weight should be put through the foot if the boot has been removed (eg when washing or sleeping).
While walking boots can provide additional stability, their primary function is to protect your foot or ankle, and help fractures or tendon injuries to heal. With this in mind, it's not advisable to use a medical boot as a standard shoe, and put your full weight on it without any additional support.
The good news is that wearing a walking boot is entirely possible. You don't necessarily need to rely on those uncomfortable crutches to help you get from one place to another.
When you're sitting with your legs propped up or lying down, try not to let that foot roll outwards with the boot on. Rest More and do less walking. Just because you are allowed to walk in your boot doesn't mean that you should go overboard. Rest is still your friend.
Walking: You may walk on the foot as comfort allows but you may find it easier to walk on your heel in the early stages. The boot you have been given is for your comfort only and is not needed to aid fracture healing but will help to settle your symptoms.
Can you fracture a bone in your foot and still walk?
This type of break usually is caused by sudden trauma, like something heavy falling on your foot. Typically you can walk on a broken foot, however, doing so will aggravate the situation. It's best to give your foot a rest, and keep weight off it, so that bones can take the time they need to heal.
You can begin to resume normal, day-to-day activities but be guided by any pain you experience. X Heavy tasks or long walks may still cause some discomfort and swelling. If you are still experiencing significant pain and swelling then please contact the Fracture Care Team for advice.
How many hours a day should you wear a walking boot?
DO wear your sock and boot any time you are on your feet. DO spend about 2 to -3 hours each day with your ankle elevated above the level of your heart.
Adding a sock to the equation is a good idea for a few reasons: It will help reduce any friction between the brace and your skin, which can help prevent any chafing or blisters. Socks for walker boots can act as a buffer between your foot (and its sweat and dead skin cells) and the brace.
Physicians routinely prescribe partial weight bearing in a walking boot following fractures of the lower limbs in order to produce the needed mechanical environment to facilitate healing. Plantar pressure measurements can provide key information regarding the mechanical environment experienced by lower limb bones.
Walker boot: Do not sleep in the boot. It is important to place as much weight as possible through the boot when walking to help the healing process. The boot should be worn when walking but can be taken off when you are: resting.
Should I wear my walking boot to bed? This is one of the most common walking boot questions among patients who are just starting to wear one. Although you should follow your doctor's advice in any situation, the normal practice is to wear the boot while sleeping.
Should I be able to wiggle my toes in a walking boot?
Check for heel lift and toes touching the end of the boot. You should be able to wiggle your toes inside the toe box (the front of the shoe). To see if you have enough room, slide your foot forward so your toes are just touching the end of the unlaced boot.
These studies demonstrate that mean braking response time and mean total reaction time significantly increase with the use of above knee casts, below knee casts, and cam walker boots. It is NOT safe to drive with a cam boot or cast.
A study published in the Journal of American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons titled Associated Joint Pain With Controlled Ankle Movement Walker Boot Wear showed that many patients experienced pain in the knee, hip, and/or back from the added weight and limb length discrepancy from the CAM boot.
Casts provide almost total immobilisation, often where there has been a bone break or fracture. Splints and surgical boots are often used to limit, but provide some controlled movement to help the tissues to heal.
Despite the safety risks, patients currently have no legal barriers to driving while wearing a cast on either of their feet. But this doesn't mean you should do it. It's not recommended by doctors, who say that driving can compromise your injury from healing properly.
Your doctor may have you use a boot for 1 to 6 weeks. How long you wear it depends on how serious your injury is. Walking boots are removable, and most of them can be adjusted. Your doctor will show you how to remove and adjust your boot.
If supplied, wear the boot for comfort when walking. It is fine to remove the boot to wash and air the foot when not walking. You do not need to wear the boot at night but may do so for comfort if you prefer. Begin gentle movement exercises (as on the previous page).
Many people who fracture will eventually heal and recover to the point where they no longer experience any pain. However, some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have healed.
Symptoms of a fracture that is not healing normally include tenderness, swelling, and an aching pain that may be felt deep within the affected bone. Often, the bone isn't strong enough to bear weight, and you may not be able to use the affected body part until the bone heals.
Some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have finished healing. This is what we call chronic pain. Chronic pain may be caused by nerve damage, the development of scar tissue, aggravation of underlying arthritis, or other causes.
