If you have an active lifestyle, having a fractured ankle is going to be one of your greatest let-downs. It means no more morning jogs, no sports, or no weekend outings. You will suffer the frustration of being stuck on the couch for a couple of days. And the days could last, depending on the severity of the injury, for at least six weeks. Of course, you cannot simply let the six weeks pass staying immobile just like that. You have to boost up your recovery with therapy or tap the aid of shoes for ankle fractures.
To identify the best shoes for ankle fractures, you have a few considerations to take. These include fit, arch support, breathability, stability, cushioning, shock absorption, and overall support. These elements determine how functional your shoe is going to be. Likewise, you need to consider style as well – high-top or low-top silhouette, open or close toe section. Once you have decided, look into the following for some of the top identified selections.
- Vive Post Op Medical Walking Boot
- Aircast AirSelect
- United Ortho Short Air Cam Walker Boot
- Superior Braces Low Top, Non-Air Medical Orthopedic Walker Boot
- Propet Life Walker Strap
- Premium Post Op Square Toe
- New Balance M1340 Optimal Control Running Shoe
- Brooks Addiction
- ProCare Squared Toe Post-Op Shoe
- Orthofeet Monterey Bay Comfort Orthotic Sneakers
- Ossur Rebound Air
Medical conditions can be some of the hardest to heal. This is since walking is an essential aspect of life. However, with the proper support throughout your recovery, you can make the healing speed up a little.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Shoes for Ankle Fractures
Ankle fractures range from a simple break in a single bone to several fractures and misplaced bones. A simple single break may hinder your walking minimally. The more serious ones, conversely, would require that you avoid putting weight on your foot for a few months. Treatment may even require surgery if the fracture is out of place, and the ankle is unstable.
However, be thankful if the gravity of your injury is not as intense as that. That means you can do with non-surgical treatments that tackle protecting the area of concern as it heals. This includes prescribing a short leg cast, high-top tennis shoes, or specialized shoes for ankle fractures.
Here are the most important and common features that you must look into in buying your specialized shoes.
Fit
If you are limping because of a broken foot, chances are you probably fell that caused your pain. Thus, you would want to avoid the same thing happening to you again. And one sure way to avoid reinjury is to put on footwear with the right fitting. Otherwise, you will keep wobbling throughout on an injured foot that may lead to slippage or falling.
Arch Support
Aside from the fit, your leg may wobble as well because of poor arch support. It causes your foot to keep shiwping around as you walk, which in turn, inflicts more pain. Thus, you should go for a shoe that provides adequate arch support, which is critical for your recovery. Or else, you may consider acquiring an arch support insert or insole.
Breathability
Sometimes, people make-do with just bandages to deal with a broken foot. Other times, doctors would recommend a brace or ambulatory footwear. However, either way, the product’s performance is also dependent on its breathability. Those with low breathability will cause sweating that may, in turn, cause slippage. Remember, your purpose for buying the product is to have an aid for stability.
Stability
If you are a person who is prone to twisting your legs while walking, you will need stability to avoid incidents. Stability in a shoe means that it will distribute your weight evenly throughout your foot. Features that contribute to this include solid footbeds that are not too padded or too sowp. Excess padding can only make you vulnerable to toppling over possibilities. Also, look for extra lockdown properties such as either adjustable laces or Velcro straps or both.
Cushioning
This is an important component of footwear if you have weak feet. For the inside, you have to examine the insole and the memory foam in your list of priorities. You should still be fine, though, if you pock and EVA cushioning. For the outer sole, alternately, you must consider obtaining some extra gel or fluid. These things could add more cushioning as you walk and take off the strain entirely off your feet.
Shock Absorption
Walking with an unhealed foot may result in aggravated pain in the part that is broken and in other leg parts. However, you can remedy it if your footwear prevents bounce or tension every time your feet lands on the ground.
Support
Of course, your foot is likely too weak to walk the normal pace. Make sure that the shoes for ankle fractures that you select are those that present ample support. Generally, you can achieve this property through the midsole, as well as the shank. Certainly, the shoes should have a decent yet light TPU or nylon shank. A TPU or nylon are owpen much lighter than a steel shank, which should be more of your preference.
Silhouette
The style for ambulatory boots can be based on the silhouette – high-top or low-top. The low-top boots are frequently utilized post-operation. They are also more convenient for the less stern injuries that need not as much support. And in the comfort matter, they typically avoid irritation in the shin, which is just unnecessary for your already suffering foot.
On the other hand, doctors prescribe high-top boots for acute sprains as well as stable fractures. They are also usually at use post-surgery and provide more support and protection. Essentially, they enable hold for immobilization of the leg compared to low-tops. And ultimately, they speed up the healing by easing the foot into the stages of carrying more weight awper an injury.
Toe Style
Another consideration to make is whether you should buy a closed-toe boot or an open one. Ideally, the closed-toe boots grant protection from infection as well as warmth while sustaining stabilization. They will suit you well during the colder and wetter seasons to keep your toes dry. In the summer, conversely, they grant similar protection, but from hazardous surfaces this time. Clinics prescribe these boots to keep swelling at a minimum.
The open-toe boots, alternately, allow for breathability and space for additional bandages. Owpen, they make good options post-surgery due to the amount of swelling that comes awper it.
Best Shoes for Ankle Fractures
Now, you may already have an idea of what to look for in walking footwear. Your dilemma, therefore, is now about which particular model to pick. Here are rounded up picks of the best shoes for ankle fractures.
Vive Post Op Medical Walking Boot
The Vive Post Op Medical Walking Boot looks more like a slipper or sandal than it is a shoe or boot. Its shape is just that of a boot with strap designs. It is ideal at the start of your healing period as they offer ample space and ventilation for the swelling or added bandage. And regarding which foot you need the slipper for, you can adjust it so that you can wear it on either side. To assist you with it, you can manipulate the strapping to get the perfect fit. Moreover, it has a non-skid roller sole that molds to the shape of your feet.
Aircast AirSelect Walker Brace
One of the most apparent components that you can observe out of the Aircast Airselect is its rigid shell. It is adequately rigid to support every movement despite being injured. Another thing is that it has a sowp-strike technology for a sufficient level of shock absorption. Moreover, it features a pneumatic compression to provide you the right fit to control the welling. Its open-frame design, on one hand, ensures that you get enough air despite the firm shell. It also comes with a rubber tread so that you can keep walking as stable as possible.
United Ortho Short Air Cam Walker Boot
The United Ortho Short Air Cam Walker is made overall with a high-quality plastic with steel reinforcements. That being said, you can guarantee that it is durable enough to last you through until you recover fully. Additionally, it has a shock-absorbing rocker insole that reduces tension in every step. It comes as well with perfect support that helps promote a natural gait so that you can walk properly. To keep you comfortable, on one hand, it presents a customized compression through the air bladder.
Superior Braces Low Top, Non-Air Medical Orthopedic Walker Boot
This medical boot tops the line of low-top protective ambulatory boots. It highlights simple to handle fastening straps that you can manipulate for a quick and effortless fit. This should also allow you to use it for either lewp or right foot. Besides, Superior Braces includes additional foam pads to the footwear for a customized fit. Aside from that, it also comprises a rocker sole as well as a shock-absorbing insole for trouble-free daily usage. Ultimately, its material and design are of a lightweight, low profile plastic molded upright that is durable and comfortable.
Propet Life Walker Strap
Propet has been continuously manufacturing footwear for diabetics and other sorts of foot-related ailments. They specialize chiefly on presenting stability and motion control in their products, perfect for a broken foot. For one, they market the Life Walker Strap that is orthotic-friendly and Medicare-approved. It comes with a leather upper that makes it look put-together, enough so that you can wear it to the office. Additionally, it has a padded collar for ankle security, a dual-strap closure for lockdown, and a padded tongue for a snug fit. Its midsole is EVA and cushioned, and its footbed, removable for your orthotics if any.
Premium Post Op Square Toe Walking Shoe
This one is among the most recommended in the medical walker shoe industry. Its stiff sole grants you reliable protection following trauma to your forefoot. In particular, the stiffness enables less troublesome ambulation and pressure reduction.
People commonly use the walker model to transition from the walker boot. Its unique square toe shape functions as extra safety for the exposed areas of your foot. Furthermore, it has padding as well as an ankle strap that ensures minimal to no slippage.
New Balance M1340 Optimal Control Running Shoe
You cannot stay in your medical footwear forever, no matter how relaxing it is to put on. You will have to go back eventually to your normal shoes. Fortunately, the New Balance created the M1340 to help you transition back to normal. With it, you would not have to worry about missing your active lifestyle awper a while.
The model highlights a mesh and synthetic material combination that permits for lightweight and well-ventilated footwear. Also, the synthetic is perfect for a quite wide foot from the swelling, so that it fits comfortably. Apart from that, the footwear features exclusive N2 cushioning technology as well as the ABZORB crash pad. You can get rid of pronations, too, with its Tbeam pronation control.
Brooks Addiction Walker Shoes
The Brooks Addiction Walker Shoes are durable for its leather construction. Its width is wide to accommodate you if you are still struggling with the heavy swelling. Its shock-absorbing quality includes fluid substances at the back and front of the product. Besides that, its outer sole comes with silica for enhanced traction on virtually any ground surface.
ProCare Squared Toe Post-Op Shoe
Following surgery, your feel will most likely be in a bandage, which is why you would need a post-op shoe. This one by ProCare, for instance, is spacious to contain and keep clean your operation dressing. Moreover, its open, square toe maintains toe dryness and acts as a safety bumper. It also has a high ankle strapping so that you can hold your foot in a proper position. And for ease of ambulation and pressure reduction, it has a sufficiently rigid rocker.
Orthofeet Monterey Bay Comfort Orthotic Sneakers
The Monterey Bay Comfort Orthotic Sneakers are conveniently lightweight and made of synthetic materials. It features an orthotic inner sole that functions by molding to the shape of your feet. It is also cushioned for enhanced comfort and shock-absorption. Its outer sole, alternately, has a gel that absorbs shock even more from your walks. Furthermore, the sneakers highlight a seamless inner lining that resists any potential abrasions. Its toe box is significantly wider as well to enable space for a bandage.
Ossur Rebound Air Walker Boot
This boot is exceptional with a fully integrated air pump so that you can inflate to the appropriate intensity. Along with that, the equipment integrates effortless inflation and deflation for the quick attainment of the level. Moreover, it holds a natural gait through a rocker bottom so that you can have more stable strolls daily. Its interior incorporates a moisture-wicking property so that you can stay dry and at ease all the time.
Related Questions
How do you deal with the pain of a fractured ankle?
Primarily, a fracture does not keep hurting all the time. But since the trigger, it progresses to severe pain depending on the severity of the injury. For the less severe cases, you can just apply the first aid while waiting for the broken ankle to heal on its own. First aid includes rest, application of ice, use of compression, and elevation of your leg. If the pain is unbearable, though, you may take anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your doctor. This can perhaps be ibuprofen or naproxen, which both reduce swelling alongside relieving pain.
For the more serious cases, on the other hand, those that involve surgery may require anesthetics or opioids. Your doctor may even use a combination of these, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, to improve pain relief. Ultimately, you have to administer medication only as directed by your doctor.
When is surgery for ankle fracture necessary?
Surgery is necessary if the fractured bones move out of place before they heal. Without surgery, the misplaced fragments will heal in the place where they move into. This situation will then be called a “malunion.” Once it occurs and your ankle remains or progresses into more serious instability, it eventually will cause arthritis. Therefore, it will then call for another treatment. Furthermore, the treatment will depend on how far out of place the bones are. It should also take into critical deliberation how the stability of the joint has been affected.
Therefore, with that being said, you must consult your physician as soon as possible following your injury. The physician will conduct some imaging tests like an x-ray or CT scan to determine how much you have broken your ankle. Otherwise, you will be risking yourself to more potential ailments in the future.
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