Common Causes Of Ankle Sprains
Sprained ankles can happen almost anywhere and are surprisingly common. The biomechanical movements that cause such injuries involve rotation or rolling of your ankle in either direction and can happen while doing any of the following activities:
- Stepping off a curb,
- Tripping over your dog, cat, child or furniture,
- Landing with an angled foot after jumping,
- Rolling or twisting to the side of a high-heeled shoe .
Choose Athletic Shoes Specifically For Your Foot Type
This is a very important part of preventing foot injuries, even for people who dont participate in sports . People with low arches should choose shoes that provide support in both the front of the shoe and under the arch. The back of the shoe should be very stable. People with high arches should choose shoes with more cushion and softer platforms. When possible, use sport-specific shoes.
Tips For Wearing A Walking Boot
Although we all hope that we wont have to deal with injuries or undergo surgery, life happens. If youve found yourself with a foot problem that requires you to wear a walking boot, you will probably find it hard to get used to.
While you should always follow your doctors advice with your boot, we have compiled our best tips for wearing a walking boot.
Following your doctors orders and incorporating some of these tips can help your foot heal faster and get you back to your normal daily activity as soon as possible.
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Do You Need A Boot For A Sprained Ankle
There are 3 grades of ankle sprains.
- The more severe the ankle sprain the more beneficial a walking boot and a knee scooter would be.
- Every situation is different, if you could completely stay off of the ankle sprain and avoid any activity, that no one would ever need a cast or a walking boot.
- Studies showed that wearing a walking boot can help all 3 grades of ankle sprains.
- This research shows that the more stable the foot and ankle is, the faster the ankle will heal.
- Admittedly this will not make a grade 3 ankle sprain heal in 1-2 days, but it will prevent a worse case scenario of worsening problems and issues.
- New studies do show that early physical therapy is essential in athlete ankle sprains. It is not a good idea to just keep the immobile. Gentle range of motion can be beneficial in more complete recovery of the ankle sprain.
Do I Need An Unna Boot For Sprained Ankle
- Personally we are big fans of unna boots for a sprained ankle.
- If the patient is in the clinic and has a lot of swelling and bruising through the ankle, an Unna boot for the sprained ankle can be very good.
- At our clinic we are big fans of utilizing unna boots whenever possible.
- An unna boot is the application of a zinc oxide layer from toes to the knee. It is then covered by a kerlix wrap and then a coflex, coban or ACE bandage.
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How Is An Ankle Sprain Diagnosed
Your doctor can diagnose an ankle sprain. He or she will examine your ankle and ask about your symptoms and activity. The doctor may take an X-ray to confirm your ankle isnt broken or fractured. Once they diagnose the sprain, your doctor will determine the grade. This will determine the type of treatment you receive. If your ankle doesnt get better, your doctor may request an MRI. This is a type of image that allows him or her to see the ligaments inside your ankle.
Walking Boot For Metatarsal Stress Fracture
Metatarsal stress fractures should always be immobilized in a boot. Like all fractures, metatarsal stress fractures will heal faster and better when they are immobilized. The easiest way to do this is to use a medical boot. If a stress fracture is suspected you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
How long to wear it? Depending on the type of fracture, most of our patients are in a boot 2 4 weeks. Wear the boot until you can get an x-ray and a doctor can tell you if are ready to come out of the boot.
Tall Boot or Short Boot? Always use a tall boot for metatarsal fractures. This is necessary because many of the muscles that attach into the metatarsal region start in the leg. If you have a stress fracture you want to limit motion of the foot by immobilizing those muscles.
Regular or Pneumatic Boot? The less expensive regular tall boot should work fine for metatarsal stress fractures.
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Avoid Needing A Walking Boot
Most minor injuries require you to use the RICE technique, as someone may have already advised you. This is:
After that, a specialized elastic bandage is needed to compress the leg. Furthermore, swelling will lessen even more if you elevate the afflicted area above your heart. Thus, it can heal more quickly.
If the sprain or injury is only mild, all you may require is rest and recovery using the RICE method. By doing this, you may heal more quickly and spend less time wearing a walking boot. To be sure you make the best decision for you, you should consult a medical expert whenever possible. See more about Can You Walk On A Sprained Ankle?
How Long Do I Need To Wear A Walking Boot For Sprained Ankle
- In a grade 1 ankle sprain it may only be necessary for a few days.
- For grade 2 ankle sprain it would likely be necessary for at least 1-2 weeks.
- In a grade 3 ankle sprain it may be necessary to wear for up to 4-6 weeks on the long end.
- Just make sure to follow with your podiatrist or foot and ankle specialist for an evaluation and proper diagnosis.
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There Are Different Types Of Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are graded on a scale between one and three, with three being most severe.
A first-degree sprain, caused by either stretching or a minor tear of the ligament, might cause tenderness, along with mild swelling and stiffness. These sprains should cause minimal discomfort and are unlikely to impede your ability to walk. Recovery time for a first-degree ankle sprain is three to five weeks.
A second-degree sprain is caused by an incomplete tear of the ligament, and moderate tenderness swelling, bruising, and pain might occur. A second-degree sprain can make walking painful. Second-degree sprains should heal in four to six weeks.
A third-degree sprain is the most severe and happens when there is a complete tear of the ligament. Walking may be impossible because, with a complete tear, the ligament can no longer support your foot. Being the most severe grade of ankle sprain, recovery times can be as long as three to six months.
Get A Rolling Scooter
A rolling scooter could be a good idea if youre going to be using your walking boot for more than just a week or two. Its a small rolling device that you lean your knee on and you walk with your uninjured foot and roll with your injured foot.
Keep in mind that you may not be able to use a rolling scooter on rough terrain, or in places like the beach.
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Walking Boot For Plantar Fasciitis
The purpose of a walking boot in treating plantar fasciitis / heel pain is to reduce tension on the plantar fascia so that the fascia can rest and heal. For many patients it is the only thing that provides enough protection for the area to heal and still allows the person to walk around. In addition, it can act to reduce pressure on the heel.
Place in boot to take tension off plantar fascia
How long to wear it? For plantar fasciitis most patients wear the boot for 7 14 days depending on severity of heel pain
Tall or Short Boot? Either one. Most people are more comfortable in the tall boot as it does not irritate the shin. But if you are short, you might want to use the short walking boot.
Hints: Use an arch support inside the boot to take more tension off of the plantar fascia. We recommend the FootChair Orthotic with Adjustable Arch Height . This arch support comes with pads that can be inserted to increase the arch height for a customized fit. For plantar fasciitis use the highest arch that you find comfortable.
Low Or Common Ankle Sprains
When ligaments on the outside of the ankle, or the anterior talofibular ligament become injured, it is considered a common ankle sprain. This ligament stabilizes the ankle, and rolling the ankle is often the cause when its injured. This common ankle sprain usually requires a relatively short rehabilitation time.
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Can Walking On A Sprained Ankle Make It Worse
Minor sprains are safe to walk on after just a day or two of recovery after any pain or swelling subsides. However, more serious sprains can take much longer. Either way, walking on a sprain before it has fully healed can worsen the injury and increase your recovery time. It can even cause problems in other areas of the leg and lower back due to changes in the way you walk.
That’s why you should never try to walk it off but take the time you need for a full recovery.
When To Contact The Team About Your Walking Boot
While walking boots are made to help you, improper use or other issues can lead to serious problems. Its important to reach out to the team if you suffer from any of the following complications:
- Pain or warmth under your foot
- Your pain is getting worse
- Extreme swelling near your boot
- Pain in your calf
- Redness or swelling in your calf
Pain, swelling, or redness in one of your calves can indicate a blood clot, which is serious. These can form after an injury without sufficient movement in the affected leg. Its important to let Dr. McAlister and his team know if you have any of the above symptoms.
Sometimes, all you need is a small adjustment to your boot in order to relieve your symptoms. Its common for ankle injuries to swell and lead to other symptoms in the first few days following the event. However, if your symptoms continue with the walking boot, its important to let Dr. McAlister know, in case there are any other issues going on.
If youve suffered an ankle injury and need expert care, call us at 602-761-7819 to schedule a consultation with Dr. McAlister, or book an appointment online with us today.
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Put Your Feet Higher Than Your Heart
If you find that your injured foot swells, feels thick and tight, or heavy, then you can alleviate the pressure in the foot by lying down and elevating your foot above the level of your heart.
This helps the fluid in your legs to flow quickly back to the heart, relieving the swelling and pain in the legs. Its a good idea to do this for about 15 to 20 minutes at a time.
You can also do it every evening when you get home to try and keep your legs from swelling and retaining fluid.
Walking Boot For Foot Fracture / Broken Foot
Aircast Pneumatic Boot Best for Fractures
There are many types of foot fractures and specific fractures may require specific treatment. So we always recommend seeing a doctor to have a foot fracture treated.
How long to wear it: Again, see a doctor first as it really depends on the type of injury. It could be anywhere from 3 weeks to 8 weeks or even more. Wear it for as long as your doctor tells you.
Short or Tall Boot? Tall boots are best for foot fractures as they immobilize both the foot and the leg muscles that attach into the foot.
Regular or Pneumatic Boot? For fractures we ONLY recommend the Aircast tall pneumatic boot. You need the extra protection to limit motion as much as possible. This walker is the closest boot you can get to an actual cast
Call or use our Patient Portal to schedule an appointment to ensure you get the right walking boot and it fits properly.
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Dr Aaron Bryce Talks About The Aircast Walker
CAM Boots range in height depending on the injury. High quality CAM boots contain adjustable and inflatable compartments for support and comfort. For further protection of the injured ankle and leg, some CAM walkers have a plastic shell which encloses the back and sides, with detachable plastic plates for the front.
Walking Boots For Sprained Ankles
When you have a sprained ankle, immobilization is key in the healing process, and walking boots of all kinds have been shown to be an effective tool. New designs and types of walking boots are constantly in development to improve patient compliance with the removable boot and increase the efficacy of treatment. When you use them according to doctors orders, walking boots can be extremely effective in helping your sprained ankle to heal.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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When Should You Call For Help
or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have severe or increasing pain.
- You have problems with your boot. For example:
- The skin under the boot is burning or stinging, or you have a warm or painful spot under the boot.
- You have numbness or tingling in the foot or toes that doesn’t go away when you adjust the tightness of the boot.
- There is a lot of swelling near the boot.
- You have a new fever.
- There is drainage or a bad smell coming from the boot.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your leg, ankle, or foot pain returns or increases after your doctor tells you to stop using the boot.
- You are not getting better as expected.
Current as of: March 9, 2022
Is It Better To Rest A Sprained Ankle Or Walk On It
Do not walk with an injured ankle. It takes time for the tissue to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage. Playing sports such as soccer, basketball, football, baseball and hockey can cause ankle injuries. If you have an ankle sprain, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
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Where Can You Buy A Walking Boot For A Sprained Ankle
You can buy a walking boot for a sprained ankle on . Below we have recommended two boots for sprained ankles that we suggest to our patients with a sprained ankle
James McCormack is a Physical Therapist who specializes in Foot & Ankle injuries. james-mccormack.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Precautions Of A Walking Boot For Sprained Ankle
You will benefit from the walking boot. However, based on your personal experience, its possible that walking around the house while wearing a boot is not the most comfortable scenario.
You might need to move around a little bit more due to the realities of life. As a result of the stress, you might need to wear the walking boot for longer.
Walking in the boot will help circulation, but physical barriers may cause an exacerbated condition. This is especially true if you do nothing to fix them.
You can take a few steps to stop yourself from getting hurt. These will benefit you by reducing the amount of time you may need to wear a walking boot.
First off, make sure your crutches are the right height if youre using them. You dont want to unintentionally step on your injured foot. This is particularly valid if you take off the walking boot for an extended period of time. The longer boot may cause you to walk differently.
When using crutches, be sure to wear appropriate footwear. For a high level of comfort, it is imperative to wear shoes with good traction. When using them, you dont want to slip and have to balance yourself on your injured foot.
Make sure your food, water, and medications are all accessible throughout the house. After completing that, you should start unwinding so that you wont need to move around as much. Ask friends to help you make space in your house so you can move around more easily.
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Walking Boots For Foot And Ankle Injuries
The terms walking boots and cast boots, as well as Aircast boots,medical boots, and fracture boots, are all variations of walkers. Remember that walkers are typically just one component of a comprehensive treatment strategy. For comprehensive care, we advise that you visit your podiatrist. The product links in this article are also affiliate links. We could receive a small commission if you click through and buy one of these products.
This page serves as a resource for selecting the top walking boots for a variety of foot issues. For each condition we will answer the following questions:
- When it comes to your specific issue, how long should you wear a boot?
- Should you wear a tall boot or short boot
- Should you use a regular boot or a pneumatic boot . For issues like fractures, pneumatic boots provide more protection, but they are more expensive. When it is worthwhile to spend the extra money and when it is not, well let you know.
- Do your lower legs or your calf muscles appear enlarged? If so, a pair of walking boots with wider calves is required. We have recommendations on medical walking boots for wide calves below