How long do you wear a walking boot?

Orthopedic boots protect broken bones and other injuries of the lower leg, ankle, or foot. They prevent more damage and help the area heal. Your doctor may have you use a boot for 1 to 6 weeks.

Do you wear a walking boot all day?

Although you should follow your doctor's advice in any situation, the normal practice is to wear the boot while sleeping. However, loosening the straps that secure the boot will increase wearing comfort and allow you to sleep better.

What to expect when walking boot comes off?

After weeks of wearing a cast, your foot is likely to feel a little strange when it comes off. Apart from looking a bit pale and wrinkled, your foot may also be swollen and a bit stiff. But once the cast is off, your foot will feel lighter and easier to manoeuvre.

Can a walking boot make an injury worse?

In this study, 67% of patients treated with a CAM walker boot for at least 2 weeks reported new or worsened secondary site pain at the time of transition out of the boot.

Can you drive with a walking boot on your left foot?

This device cannot be worn while driving, even if the boot is on the left (non-driving) foot. This is the law, folks! Also, this device cannot be worn in the shower because water can damage your equipment. Your boot may be worn in bed, but only if your provider directs you to do so.

How to Wear

Do I sleep with my walking boot on?

You DO have to put the boot back on before you put your feet down in the morning. You need to keep the boot close to you on the floor or on your nightstand so you can reach it easily. You SHOULD keep the boot on while you're laying around the house to prevent bumping the injury and to help the foot heal properly.

Do you need crutches with a walking boot?

Generally speaking, keeping weight off may well require you to use some type of assistive device even with a walking boot. But it doesn't have to be crutches. Leaning on a walker or cane or using a wheelchair for longer periods where you might be on your feet may be the right thing for you.

How tight should my walking boot be?

We suggest using one under the ankle strap as there is no padding there. Fasten the remaining straps until your foot feels snug but not tight. If you fasten the boot too tight you may cause pressure to your skin.

How much should I walk in a walking boot?

We generally recommend becoming full weight-bearing in the boot prior to any of our boot weaning protocols. Generally, when patients are placing between 50 and 75% of the weight on the injured leg they are able to transition to using 1 crutch or cane on the opposite side.

Should I wear a sock with my walking boot?

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.

How long to wean out of a walking boot?

These progressions typically happen over a 2, 4 or 6 week period. In some cases we allow patients to transitional directly out of the after an appropriate amount of time. This will be determined at your visit based on your condition and recovery process.

Does walking boot cause swelling?

Check your foot and toes for redness and swelling. If your toes are red, swollen, numb, or tingly, loosen your straps or deflate the air chamber. Over time, the swelling from the injury or surgery will decrease. When this happens, you may need to tighten the straps.

Can you drive with a walking boot on your right foot?

Despite the obvious safety hazards, there are currently no laws prohibiting driving with a cast on either of your feet. It is not encouraged by doctors, who say that you might prevent your bones from healing correctly, or even end up in an accident due to impaired reaction time.

How long does a fracture take to heal in the foot?

A broken foot or toe may take 4–6 weeks to heal fully. However, in some cases, healing time can be as long as 10–12 weeks. Recovering individuals should follow the RICE method and any specific instructions from their doctor.

What happens at 6 weeks non weight bearing?

Skeletal muscle weakness and atrophy occur following an extended period of decreased use, including space flight and limb unloading. It is also likely that affected muscles will be susceptible to a re-loading injury when they begin return to earth or weight bearing.

Can you get a blood clot from wearing a walking boot?

This is a common and usually normal occurrence after surgery or an injury. It is often due to altered walking, injury or from being in a boot or cast but it can also be due to a blood clot.

Is a walking boot better than a cast?

Less skin damage – skin underneath a cast can become raw and painful. The open-air design and lightweight material helps to prevent skin damage when wearing a walking boot. No loud saws used – walking boots can be removed without the use of loud saws. This is helpful for children who may be afraid of the saws.

Can you exercise in a walking boot?

If you are in a walking boot, then you can stand, but avoid doing any exercises that involve jumping or otherwise moving your feet. It's usually ok to stand in one place, however, and do the upper body strengthening.

Can I take my walking boot off at home?

Put your leg inside a plastic trash bag and tape the top around your leg. If you can take the boot off when you shower, pat the area dry after you shower. Then put the boot back on. If your boot gets a little wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer.

Can you walk in just a walking boot?

Let's recap… 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.

Should it hurt to walk in a walking boot?

Just be careful that you get the correct size for you and that you feel safe using such a product. Your goal is to keep both hips level so you don't feel like you are forced to limp when you walk. Limping from the height difference caused by the boot will lead to hip and/or back pain if you are not careful.

How long do you wear a walking boot for a stress fracture?

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 and should be worn for walking for 6 weeks.