Walking Boot

What is a Walking Boot

A walking boot is a medical device that holds your foot or ankle in place after an injury or a medical procedure. This helps with healing and prevents further injury. A walking boot is a removable boot-shaped splint. It has a hard, rigid outer frame that limits movement and supports your foot and leg. The inner lining is a layer of padded material. Walking boots usually have adjustable straps to secure them over the foot and leg.

Your health care provider may prescribe a walking boot if you can put weight (bear weight) on your injured foot. How much you can walk while wearing the boot will depend on the type and severity of your injury. Your health care provider will recommend the best boot for you based on your condition.

How do I put on my walking boot?

There are different types of walking boots. Each type of boot has specific instructions about how to wear it properly. Follow instructions from your health care provider about wearing your boot. In general:

• Ask someone to help you put on the boot, if needed.
• Sit to put on your boot. Doing this is more comfortable and it helps to prevent falls.
• Open up the boot fully. Place your foot into the boot so your heel rests against the back.
• Your toes should be supported by the base of the boot. They should not hang over the front edge.
• Adjust the straps so the boot fits securely but is not too tight.
• Do notbend the hard frame of the boot to get a good fit.

What are some tips for walking with a walking boot?

• Do nottry to walk without wearing the boot unless your health care provider has approved.
• Use other assistive walking devices, including crutches and canes, as told by your health care provider.
• On your uninjured foot, wear a shoe with a heel that is close to the height of the walking boot.
• Be careful when walking on surfaces that are uneven or wet.

How can I reduce swelling while using a walking boot?

• Rest your injured foot or leg as much as possible.
• If directed, apply ice to the injured area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Keep your injured foot or leg raised (elevated) above the level of your heart whenever able. Try to do this for at least 2‒3 hours each day or as told by your health care provider.

If swelling gets worse, loosen the boot and rest and elevate your foot and leg.

How should I take care of my skin and foot while using a walking boot?

• Wear a long sock to protect your foot and leg from rubbing inside the boot.
• Take off the boot one time each day to check the injured area. Look at your foot, surrounding skin, and leg to make sure there are no sores, rashes, swelling, or wounds. The skin should be a healthy color, not pale or blue.
• Try to notice if your walking pattern (gait) in the boot is fairly normal and that you are not walking with a noticeable limp.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about taking care of your incision or wound, if this applies.
• Clean and wash the injured area as told by your health care provider.
• Gently dry your foot and leg before putting the boot back on.

Are there any activity restrictions?

Activity restrictions depend on the type and severity of your injury. Follow instructions from your health care provider about limiting activities.

• Bathe and shower as told by your health care provider.
• Do notdo any activities that could make your injury worse.
• Do notdrive if your affected foot is one that you usually use for driving.

When can I remove my walking boot?

Always follow specific directions from your health care provider for removing the walking boot. Generally, it is okay to remove your walking boot:

• At the end of the day when you are resting or sleeping.
• To clean your foot and leg.

How should I keep my walking boot clean?

• Do notput any part of the boot in a washing machine or dryer.
• Do notuse chemical cleaning products. These could irritate your skin, especially if you have a wound or an incision.
• Do notsoak the liner of the boot.
• Use a washcloth with mild soap and water to clean the frame and the liner of the boot by hand.
• Allow the boot to air-dry completely before you put it back on your foot.

Contact a health care provider if:

• The boot is cracked or damaged.
• The boot does not fit properly.
• Your foot or leg hurts.
• You have a rash, sore, or open sore (ulcer) on your foot or leg.
• The skin on your foot or leg is pale.
• You have a wound or incision on the foot and it is getting worse.
• Your skin becomes painful, red, or irritated.
• Your swelling does not get better or it gets worse.

Get help right away if:

• You cannot feel your foot or leg (have numbness).
• You cannot feel a pulse at the top of your foot, where your foot and ankle meet.
• Your skin on the foot or leg is cold, blue, or gray.

Summary

• A walking boot holds your foot or ankle in place after an injury or a medical procedure.
• There are different types of walking boots. Follow the specific instructions about how to correctly wear the boot that you have.
• Ask someone to help you put on the boot, if needed.
• It is important to check your skin and foot every day. Call your health care provider if you notice a rash or sore on your foot or leg.

Walking Boot for Children

A walking boot is a medical device that holds your child’s foot or ankle in place after an injury or a medical procedure. This helps with healing and prevents further injury. A walking boot is a removable boot-shaped splint. It has a hard, rigid outer frame that limits movement and supports your child’s leg and foot. The inner lining is a layer of padded material. Walking boots usually have adjustable straps to secure them over the foot and leg.

Your child’s health care provider may prescribe a walking boot if your child can put weight (bear weight) on the injured foot. How much your child can walk while wearing the boot will depend on the type and severity of your child’s injury. Your child’s health care provider will recommend the best boot for your child based on your child’s condition.

How should my child put on the walking boot?

There are different types of walking boots. Each type of boot has specific instructions about how to wear it properly. Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider. In general:

• Help your child put on the boot, if needed.
• Your child should sit to put on the boot. Doing this is more comfortable and it helps to prevent falls.
• Your child should open up the boot fully, then lace his or her foot into the boot so his or her heel rests against the back.
• Your child’s toes should be supported by the base of the boot. They should not hang over the front edge.
• Your child should adjust the straps so the boot fits securely but is not too tight.
• Your child should notbend the hard frame of the boot to get a good fit.

What are some tips for walking with a walking boot?

Your child should:

• Nottry to walk without wearing the boot unless your child’s health care provider has approved.
• Use other assistive walking devices, including crutches and canes, as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Wear a shoe on the uninjured foot with a heel that is close to the height of the walking boot.
• Be careful when walking on surfaces that are uneven or wet.

How can swelling be reduced while my child uses a walking boot?

• Your child should rest her or his injured foot or leg as much as possible.
• If directed, apply ice to the injured area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your child’s skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Your child should keep the injured foot or leg raised (elevated) above the level of the heart whenever possible. Your child should try to do this for at least 2‒3 hours each day or as told by your child’s health care provider.

If swelling gets worse, loosen the boot and have your child rest and elevate the foot and leg.

How should I take care of my child’s skin and foot while he or she uses a walking boot?

• Have your child wear a long sock to protect the foot and leg from rubbing inside the boot.
• Have your child take off the boot one time each day to check the injured area.
• Look at your child’s foot, surrounding skin, and leg to make sure there are no sores, rashes, swelling, or wounds. The skin should be a healthy color, not pale or blue.
• Make sure your child’s walking pattern (gait) in the boot is fairly normal and that your child is not walking with a noticeable limp.
• Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider for taking care of your child’s incision or wound, if this applies.
• Clean and wash the injured area as told by your health care provider.
• Gently dry your child’s foot and leg before putting the boot back on.

Are there any activity restrictions?

Activity restrictions depend on the type and severity of your child’s injury. Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider.

• Your child should bathe or shower as told by his or her health care provider.
• Your child should notdo any activities that could make the injury worse.
• If your child is of driving age, do notlet him or her drive if the affected foot or leg is one that he or she usually uses for driving.

When can I remove my child’s walking boot?

Always follow specific directions from your child’s health care provider. Generally, it is okay to remove your child’s walking boot:

• At the end of the day when your child is resting or sleeping.
• To clean your child’s foot and leg.

How should I keep my child’s walking boot clean?

• Do notput any part of the boot in a washing machine or dryer.
• Do notuse chemical cleaning products. These could irritate your child’s skin, especially if your child has a wound or an incision.
• Do notsoak the liner of the boot.
• Use a washcloth with mild soap and water to clean the frame and the liner of the boot by hand.
• Allow the boot to air-dry completely before putting it back on your child’s foot.

Contact a health care provider if:

• The boot is cracked or damaged.
• The boot does not fit properly.
• Your child’s foot or leg hurts.
• Your child has a rash, sore, or open sore (ulcer) on the foot or leg.
• The skin on the foot or leg is pale.
• Your child has a wound or incision on the foot and it is getting worse.
• Your child’s skin becomes painful, red, or irritated.
• Your child’s swelling does not get better or it gets worse.

Get help right away if:

• Your child cannot feel his or her foot or leg (has numbness).
• You cannot feel a pulse at the top of your child’s foot, where the foot and ankle meet.
• Your child’s skin on the foot or leg is cold, blue, or gray.

Summary

• A walking boot holds your child’s foot or ankle in place after an injury or medical procedure.
• There are different types of walking boots. Follow specific instructions about how your child should wear his or her walking boot.
• Help your child put on the boot, if needed.
• It is important to check your child’s skin and foot every day. Call your health care provider if you notice a rash or sore on your child’s foot or leg.