Last Updated on 3 years by admin
Choosing between the right features for your medical boot isn’t the most glamorous accessory to choose from, but is very essential in your healing process. So which orthopedic walking boot is best? There are many considerations you must look at before buying the right product for your specific type of injury. Depending on the location or severity of your injury, a tall cast boot may be ideal compared to a short cam boot. Also, an air pump may be an important feature to add to your boot to help with the swelling.
Cam walker boots pros and cons
| Toe Fracture | Short Non-Air (MILD) | Short Air (Moderate) | Tall Air (Heavy-Duty) |
| Post Bunion Surgery | √ | √ | √ |
| Heel Pain | √ | √ | √ |
| Metatarsal Stress Fracture | √ | √ | √ |
| Foot Fracture | × | √ | √ |
| Lisfranc Injury | × | √ | √ |
| Post Achilles Tendonitis Surgery | × | √ | √ |
| Sprained Ankle | × | × | √ |
| Ankle Fracture | × | × | √ |
Short Walking Boots:
- Mostly used for postoperative foot surgery, metatarsal and digital fractures, and soft tissue trauma of the foot and ankle.
- Convenient for not as severe injuries that do not need as much support, avoid irritation of the shin.
Tall Walking Boots:
- Usually worn for acute ankle sprains, stress fractures of the lower leg, soft tissue injuries of the lower leg, and stable fractures of the foot or ankle.
- Allow support for immobilization of the leg compared to the short medical boots.
- Used post-surgery and provide support, protection, and essentially immobilization of the leg.
- Help speed up the healing process and can ease the foot into the stages of bearing more weight after the initial injury.
To help with circulation in the foot during your time in a cam walker, pair your boot with our sock liners to speed up your recovery!
Avoid further injury—preventing knee, hip, and back pain—due to leg length discrepancy when wearing a medical shoe with the Even up Shoe Balancer. The Even up is the easy way to “even up” leg length from your hip to the sole of your foot, making walking with a shoe safe and pain-free.
Aircast vs Non-Air Walking Boots:
Air Pump Feature: Inflates an air bladder to the needed compression for increased stabilization of your injury.
- This extra feature ultimately helps accommodate swelling that occurs during the healing process.
- Swelling can be controlled by using extra compression and elevation.
- The air boot allows you to adjust the level of compression that is pumped into the boot, giving you the ability to choose the comfort level during each phase of your recovery.
- Helps by contouring around the leg and reducing the movement within the boot.
- More expensive, but helps with comfort.
Orthopedic Tall Walking Boot with Inflatable Air Pump
This medical-grade orthopedic walking boot/air cast boot offers mobility, protection, and support for daily activities while recovering from a variety of foot and ankle injuries or pain caused by:
- Sprained ankle
- Stress fracture
- Postoperative use
- Metatarsal fracture
- Lisfranc injuries
- Broken foot
- Achilles tendonitis
Tall vs. Short Orthopedic Boots: What’s the Difference?
| MODERATE & SEVERE ANKLE SPRAINS | MILD ANKLE SPRAINS |
| STRESS FRACTURE IN LOWER LEG & FOOT | BROKEN TOE |
| POST-SURGERY | POST-SURGERY |
| PEOPLE OVER 6″ TALL |
Tall walking boots are usually for more severe sprains and stress fractures of the lower leg, foot, or ankle. They allow for much more immobilization and support than shorter medical boots. Short CAM walker boots are less supportive but still help stabilize your foot after a toe fracture, postoperative foot surgery, or a mild forefoot or ankle sprain.
If you are 6-foot tall or taller, you should always opt for a tall walking boot. Short boots will not provide adequate support or protection for long legs.
Why Choose a Pneumatic vs. Non-Air Medical Boot
Not sure what type of walking boot is right for you? Our pneumatic walker boots inflate with special hand air pumps to provide personalized compression, reduce swelling, and provide more foot stability after an injury. Non-air CAM boots still provide quite a bit of stability, are adjustable, and can provide the right amount of support, especially if you are just suffering from slight heel pain or just had bunion surgery.
Healing benefits of this tall air boot include:
- The air forms around the shape of your foot for optimal comfort and fit.
- When using the air pump, you can easily adjust the amount of compression. After all, too much compression to a swollen foot can be counterproductive.
- Air helps break your pain cycle by reducing inflammation and swelling.
- Multiple air bladders have a massaging effect on your foot every time you take a step.
6 Advantages of Tall Pneumatic Walking Boot for Broken Ankle
Innovative Air Cell Technology
Possibly the best feature of this boot is its air pump. Once inflated, the air chambers help keep your leg properly positioned within the brace for enhanced stability and fit, as well as personalized compression. To inflate the air bladders and increase pressure, push the red bulb (handpump) until you reach your desired compression level. To deflate, push the black button under the bulb.
Low-Profile Polymer Shell
The majority of walking boots for sale are made out of plastic and metal struts. However, this walking boot shell is constructed entirely out of a polymer material. Although it looks similar to standard plastic, the polymer is a very strong and high-tech, yet surprisingly lightweight form of plastic.
This non-weight-bearing boot has a relatively low-profile fit when compared to other boots for broken metatarsal bones and other foot injuries. The design improves your mobility throughout the day. It is also universal, allowing you to wear this recovery boot interchangeably on your right or left foot.
Wide Footbed and Open Toe Design
This foot boot for broken toes, ankles sprains, and more leaves your toe area open. This advanced feature is convenient for accessing bandaging and improving the breathability of this toe fracture boot.
Similarly, the wide footbed of this boot is also a valuable feature. After sustaining a foot or toe injury, you’ll probably experience some swelling and your injury might need bandaging. This walking shoe allows extra room for swelling, bandaging, and thick socks. After your swelling has subsided, you can adjust the liner, straps, and air pump to tighten your fit.
Deluxe Foam Interior
This boot for fractured toes and other injuries is lined with a deluxe foam material that is soft and squishy against your skin.
Plus, to eliminate any discomfort you might experience as you move throughout the day, extra foam pads are also included with your purchase. These soft pads can be placed anywhere within your boot to help prevent discomfort from pressure points, gaps, rubbing, or chafing against your skin.
Natural Rocker Bottom Sole
The curved bottom of this fractured toe boot promotes a smooth gait (stride) that is more energy-efficient. Meaning that, unlike some broken foot splints, this one will not cause a hitch in your step that can lead to other problems, such as hip or back pain. Plus, the arching rocker design of this shoe boot helps reduce impact and plantar pressures.
Medical-Grade Fasteners
Another outstanding feature of this post-surgical boot is that the fastener straps are much stronger than most. That is because these are medical-grade straps, which are 10 times stronger than the retail-grade fasteners you’ll find on braces at Target, Walmart, or your local drugstore. Medical-grade fasteners are meant to open and close 900 times, unlike retail-grade fasteners, which are only meant to open and close 90 times.
Even up Shoe Lift Balancer for Walking Boot
Avoid further injury—preventing knee, hip, and back pain—due to leg length discrepancy when wearing a walking boot with the Even up Shoe Balancer. The Even up is the easy way to “even up” leg length from your hip to the sole of your foot, making walking with a boot safe and pain-free.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Tall CAM Walker Boot
What conditions/injuries does this boot treat? It’s great for use after surgery or toe, foot, and ankle injury treatment, including stress fractures, torn foot ligaments, sprains, strains, bruised foot bones, metatarsal fractures, ankle arthritis, ankle breaks, lisfranc injuries, Achilles tendon tears, and more.
How does it work?
Designed to provide mobility, protection, and support for day-to-day activities while immobilizing your toes, foot, ankle, and lower leg.
Who can wear this brace?
It comes in a range of sizes, fitting a wide variety of adult men and women, as well as some teenagers and kids.
What size should I get?
To choose your size, view our sizing graphic in the images above. This walking boot is universal, so it will fit your right or left foot.
When should I wear it?
Use anytime your toe, foot, or ankle needs to be immobilized. It can be worn throughout the day for support. Ask your doctor before wearing this boot while sleeping.
What is it made of?
This brace is made out of a polymer plastic shell, as well as a deluxe foam lining.
How tall is this walking boot for a broken foot?
About is 16 inches tall
How do I put it on?
With all closures open, place your foot inside the boot liner, making sure to slide your heel to the back of the boot. Close the liner, starting near your toes and working up towards your lower leg. Fasten the straps tightly, working toe-up. Attach extra foam pads to the liner anywhere you feel pressure or gaps. Then, inflate the air cell pressure, pushing the red bulb until you reach the necessary compression. To deflate, push the black button under the bulb and the pressure will decrease.
Washing Instructions:
Handwash all components in warm water with mild soap, allowing it to air dry completely before reapplying.
Other features:
- Natural, non-invasive fix for many sources of foot and ankle pain
- Easy to put on, take off and adjust
- Extra pads are included with your purchase for added comfort
