18/02/2020
So you’ve injured your ankle… are you more likely to wear a boot or a cast? 🤷♂️
Pros and cons of a walking boot:
✅ Ability to weight-bear (only if cleared by physiotherapist or doctor)
✅ Ability to remove boot for showering, exercise performance
✅Immobilisation of ankle to allow tissue healing
✅Breathable
✅Ability to wash lining of boot when becoming dirty or smelly
✅Results in less muscular wastage of entire leg following immobilisation than casting
❌ Slightly less immobilisation than rigid cast
❌ Unable to wet boot, where able to in fiberglass cast
❌ Usually heavier than cast
Pros and cons of a cast:
✅ Complete immobilisation of ankle- allowing the best opportunity for tissue healing
✅ Fiberglass cast will be waterproof in most cases
✅ Lighter weight than walking boot
✅ Your friends can sign your cast, which will look SUPER cool.
❌ Inability to remove cast until taken off by physiotherapist or orthopaedic specialist following appropriate period of immobilisation
❌ Greater muscular wastage evident upon removal of cast
When will my physiotherapist or doctor recommend a cast over a walking boot?
❌ If your condition requires complete immobilisation for an extended period (Eg. 6 weeks+ for many fractures)
❌ Weight bearing is contraindicated
Type of injury: Complex fractures (often requiring surgery, then cast post-surgery), tibia or fibula fractures (as recommended by orthopaedic surgeon or doctor).
Fiberglass casts are often used over plaster casts as follow-up X-Rays will pass through fiberglass easier than plaster.
When will my physiotherapist or doctor recommend a walking boot over a cast?
✅ Weight bearing allowed
✅ Removal of boot allowed for performance of home exercise program
✅ Type of injury: Stress fractures, non-complex fractures of fibula or tibia, ankle ligament injuries, achilles tendon injuries, calf muscle tears.
✅ History of pressure wounds on heels
The golden message!
🌟Your orthopaedic surgeon, GP and physiotherapist will recommend the appropriate form of immobilisation tailored to your individual needs based on the nature and extent of your injury. A combination of casting and walking boot use may be the appropriate course of treatment.
Call our expert physiotherapy team today on (02) 4647 1134 to book your consult today!
