If you have a foot or ankle injury, A&E may have fitted you with a boot to immobilise and support your injury. It is important that you wear the boot as advised. In most circumstances your support can be removed to allow you to wash and dress. Show
The Fracture Clinic team will give you specific advice on how and when do to this safely. The video and information below shows you how to fit and adjust your boot correctly.
Black boot
Ensure your heel is positioned right at the back of the boot. Start by tightening the strap across the ankle and at the top of the boot. The extra foam pads that can be used to protect any pressure areas. 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. Rebound boot
Ensure your heel is positioned right at the back of the boot. Start by tightening the strap across the ankle and at the top of the boot. 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 Unfortunately we are not able to not reuse boots. When you are finished with yours it can be discarded. Your Care InstructionsOrthopedic 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. How long you wear it depends on how serious your injury is. Orthopedic boots are removable, and most of them can be adjusted. Your health professional will show you how to put on, remove, and adjust your boot. Ask your health professional to give you any instructions that may have come with your boot. Most orthopedic boots have straps. Some have built-in air cushions that hold the injured area in place. Some boots have settings that control how much your ankle can move. These boots are called controlled ankle movement (CAM) boots. Adjust or remove the boot only when your doctor says it's okay. If your boot has CAM settings, do not change those settings. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. How can you care for yourself at home?General care
Boot and skin care
Water and your boot
When should you call for help?Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:
Where can you learn more?Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd Enter L531 in the search box to learn more about "Orthopedic Boot: Care Instructions". Should I keep my walking boot on 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.
Should I wear my fracture boot to bed?0-6 If supplied, wear the boot for comfort when walking. Whether you wear it at night in bed is up to you. It is fine to remove the boot to wash and air the foot when not walking.
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. On average, each of these patients experienced 1.6 secondary pain sites.
How long should you wear a walking boot during the day?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.
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