OK, so you're a runner. Does that mean we don't need to rest? Of course not. So let's get over ourselves, runners. In the case example from the video, the runner had to double her time in the walking cast initially because she didn't rest. All the problems described in this video aren't problems unless we don't take the time to rehabilitate and re-build strength and flexibility. If we think we don't need as much time to heal, then we are the problem, not the walking boot.

True and correct info. I ve been a runner all my life and recently I tear my tibufibular anterior ligament and had Prolotherapy done by a Sport Medicine Physiatrist ,..plus ,was instructed to get my foot into a Boot which the Dr. told me to use for 2 weeks only or less depending on the duration of the pain and inmmediately the pain stops told to remove the Boot !!...The tear was confirm through an MRI.

I had a grade 2 calf tear in Feb. 2022 playing baseball. A boot was not suggested and I kept re-injuring the calf tear. Now, I’m in boot and feel like my calf is healing right. I will use boot for approx. 3 weeks total and see where I’m at. Great video.👍

i’m a runner. i got diagnosed with a stress fracture in my fourth metatarsal and it’s preseason for xc. the boot sucks, but push through because the outcome is worth it when you finally get to run again.

Thank you so much. Very good information! To know.

Lifting weights, squats, deadlifts etc… increase bone density.

Are you suggesting that lack of pain on contact is a reliable indicator that the bone has healed enough to stop using a boot?

Thank you very much this was very helpful

If they really are an athlete, they should know how critical it is to rehab their injured foot back to strength, flexibility and endurance after the immobilization period. This video completely ignores the rehab or physical therapy part to full recovery. This video also does not mention any alternatives to the walking boot. Would like to see an updated video that addresses these two points.

Can’t you just rebuild?

I'm an athletic person (runner, dancer, on my feet) who ruptured my achilles tendon earlier this yr. I had surgery late and i've been in a cast for a month now post surgery. They're putting me in a boot soon, but on top of what i was feeling, watching this just made me fear everything... I feel like I'll never be where I once was.

Thank you for this info! I’m a roller skater with an ankle fracture. I’ve felt good enough for light PT and strength training of the foot for weeks and my ortho doctor won’t allow it. I’ve felt that being immobile is detrimental to faster recovery and have been doing more than what I’m told to, listening to my body and not over doing it.

I broke my 5th metatarsal and ankle with no displacement. The walking boot felt like it was tearing my ankle up. So, I simply wear supportive shoes in the house and walk with a Walker to the bathroom, and to the garage to go to my apts, or simply accompany my family to run errands. I stay in the bed 99% of the time. I wear a post surgical shoe to the ortho, but l use their wheelchairs anyways. I purchased this pink walking cast from Amazon, with hopes it doesn’t hurt my ankle like the Aircast does. My foot & ankle swell from sitting in a vehicle, so l will put an ice pack in the new walking cast when l receive it. I sit on the side of the bed and do non weight bearing exercises for my legs. Wish me luck.

I'm almost 9 minutes into this video and it's all doom and gloom on wearing a boot yet no solutions or alternatives. Not sure what the messaging is here. Don't use a boot despite a fracture? Use a boot for less time than doctor ordered?

There seem to be a lot of negative comments here regarding the doctor's thoughts on wearing a boot after injury. However, after fracturing my 5th metatarsal five weeks ago, I can already see the dangers of wearing a boot. My calf has atrophied and I have lost so much muscle and strength. The surgeon at the hospital told me that I have a zone 1 fracture (the least serious), and that I should wear the boot for six weeks before seeing him again. However, he gave absolutely no advice on how to maintain muscle strength, which seems to be a common form of neglect in regard to this injury and medical care. With all that in mind, I have eased myself off the boot, and began walking around the house and to the local supermarket in my running shoes. I obviously wouldn't advise people with more serious injuries to do this, but I would encourage them to at least look up physio exercises in the early period after injury as muscle loss will cause you problems down the line.

Well what do you suggest we use instead of a boot??

I asked the Doctor a few weeks in Will I be able to run come 6 months. He said take it easy. “Walk before you run” Those words are engrained in me now. Month into Tri maleular fracture.

I think I have that with my leg but it hasn’t broke yet bc I’m careful when it hurts

With all that walking that she did, even in the boot, and probably up and down hills in San Francisco -- it's amazing it ONLY took 8 weeks in the boot to heal! Too much movement and weight bearing early on!

Thank you so much for this content! I have a low risk grade 2 stress reaction in my posterior tibia. I’ve already taken three weeks off of running and eliminated all unnecessary walking. I’ve noticed significant improvement and there is no longer any pain while walking and doing activities of daily living. However yesterday I visited a sports medicine doctor who told me I needed a boot and knee scooter for another four weeks! What!? After speaking with other trusted medical providers I decided that is not the route I should go. It’s important that information like this is out there and available so that non traditional patients can be educated enough to ask the right questions of their medical provider and make an informed decision about what treatment is right for them. Interestingly there is some research discussing the benefits of “weight bearing bone building” exercise once tolerated pain free (like hops jumps and step ups). Do you have any advice on when and how to integrate these types of exercises into a rehabilitation program?

"What they consider full activity would be considered rest for a runner" - so funny, and so true! 😄

I would hope people would start walking after they get out of a boot or fracture sandal. Not running!!

This isn't just for runners...hikers, martial artists, weightlifters, etc. I need to get back on the mat and trails soon! Broke the 5th metatarsal and just got the green light to start weight-bearing as I wean off the crutches.

Ashley should not have been bearing weight on her fractured foot.

Thanks very much for the videos. They're very educative. I recently got back into soccer after about 5 years. This led to shin splints and later a tibial stress fracture. Due to negligence and lack of education on overtraining injuries, I let the stress fracture heal on its own after about 4 months without seeking medical advice since it didn't start as something serious. Thinking it has healed, it got refractured and more serious this time. I'm 1 week in a long leg cast and after watching this video, I fear the more. It's a simple and stable fracture. Just 1 week later, my tibia is feeling better. My fear and question is will the fracture ever heal to perfection and if possible, how long? Also, is it the end of soccer for me?

Thank you, is it the same with achilles rupture? Since I am active and want to get back asap, but I do not want a rerupture

So what do you do when you have bilateral metatarsal fractures. I had a fall and fractured my left 5th metarsal in multiple places. Also had a right lisfranc fracture of the second metarsal. Had surgery 2 weeks after the incident. Can barely get around using a boot and knee scooter. Legs weak from sitting in bed waiting for surgery. Don't want them to atrophy. Breaking both feet is so much more disabling than breaking just one. The boot seems counter-productive since it's my feet that are broken not my ankle and restricted ankle motion seems useless.

Is there anything else you can use for fractures of those bones,instead of a boot? I am 68 and have 3 horses I’m teaching horsemanship with. Not a lot,but,I don’t want to give it up,plus,they need much care every day. My bones may be breaking down due to age and,I intend to be bone scanned in the future. But,the bones have been broken for many months and I thought it was something I could deal with,till,the pain won’t go away and X-rays,yesterday showed that it’s been fractures,not,sprains,like I was thinking....sigh.... I just know I won’t wear a boot, and I’ve been walking on these broken bones for months...dumb,I guess....if there’s some support that a wrap or athletic shoe could help,I’d be grateful..

I’m not a runner. I fractured my fibula Monday night at a trampoline park. The boot makes my foot and ankle swell and hurts and caused extra bruising. I haven’t gotten a call from the dr or an appt yet so it’s very frustrating. I just have to leave it off! Last night I took it off while asleep somehow? Without unstrapping the foot 😬 I know compression is important but I just can’t!! So I hope the swelling and bruising gets better soon I’m so tired of this already

I'm not a runner but I have been saying this since I started PT. I wish they had me at least do exercises while home in bed. As soon as I am done typing this I am ordering a diabetic shoe (regular ones don't fit yet and these are adjustable for swelling) and ditching the boot ! What is your theory on the lace up stabilizer ? I am not a fan of it but believe I need something even if it is just a compression stabilizer. Yesterday I stepped on a piece of dog kibble ( no boot) and almost rolled my ankle. I did tweak it slightly and was in pain the rest of the night. SO I definitely feel the need for some sort of stabilization. Thanks for the Video !

Last march I had fracture of my big toes and 2nd toe. Had K-wire stabilization procedure too for the 2nd toe. I was on cast for 6 weeks then pin and cast removed. I had developed foot stiffness and did a lot of warm compress and exercises to get rid off . This jan 31st same leg slipped and twisted, I was on cast for more than 3 wks then now on boots. One fracture you had, you have to be really careful. Now past 4 wks, already I have wasting of calf muscles. I am trying weight bear with boot, after which developing pain. Need to prevent stiffness , and manage muscle wasting. Pls suggest any exercise

I’m an athlete with history of non-union breaks including 5th metatarsal head/neck that took 6+ months to heal. Now I have a Jones fracture same foot. Dr. says immobilize in boot 4-6 weeks to see bone start healing then start walking in boot another 6 weeks.

This was helpful because I went to a foot Dr yesterday I was experiencing pain in my big toe pad. She said I think you broke your sesamoid bone sure enough I did. In ankle boot with a dancer stock I go. She knows I exercise 6 days a week 3 days with a trainer and I guess you could say semi intense. She said no running squatting anything where I am doing a lot of pressure outside of walking on that foot. She said I'm so sorry but I want your foot right. So this morning I started walking and my foot felt like new..I was so tempted to get on my treadmill but said no because there truly is cushion in this boot to give a false impression in feeling normal. I go back in 3 weeks. So I did find some cardio exercises in KZfaq for ppl with boots and my trainer and I will do stretching..The Dr said she wants me to really stretch... Thanks for the story....and any advice you may have...

One alternative to a fracture walking boot is the TayCo External Ankle Brace for hindfoot and ankle problems. It is lightweight alternative brace and fits over a sturdy jogging shoe. It can fully immobilize the ankle, then convert to free motion in dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. It stabilizes the ankle while keeping the patient mobile and active. Many people are still able to train and even run with the brace, if the physician gives the ok. This would not have helped "Ashley" as she had a forefoot injury, but can help many other with hind foot and ankle issues.

Oh lord, Ashley’s anecdote hurt my soul

if she was stiff and was in a aircast boot, did she not do pt and stuff

How unhelpful is this ! I have an ankle fracture and am watching my leg lose strength and mobility- do you suggest I ignore the boot and push through?

I got a fibular stress fracture right above my ankle. What would you recommend for a fibular stress fracture recovery? A walking boot, air/gel cast, no cast or boot but utilize crutches?

What about the case when the plantar fascia is unattached to the bone? How long do you recommend to wear the walking boot after the immobilization time? Do I need to respect that Inmovilizaron time period?

Is this specific to runners? Or does it apply to athletes playing general sports? Also is there a specific time period that makes using the boot a unreliable treatment? Or is it even if it's for a couple weeks use?

What is the boot for? Is it for protection? Is it for immobilization? Is it to keep weight off? I have a slightly displaced (

There is a RCT that contradicts this. Tibial stress fractures had a return to running at 21 days with an airboot vs 70 days with traditional rest.

If you’re afraid of losing muscle and bone density during recovery, proteins and other nutritions help. If you’re on stem cells, even better

If not the boot then is the cast a better option? Just left the cast after 3 weeks for a boot. And I have an ironman triathlon in 6 months

How about that bone growing machine ? PRP ? Stem cells?

What about for a mildly displaced oblique fracture of the distal fibular at the level of syndesmosis. I week with just icing until Orthopedic diagnosis. No surgery and no manual adjustment. Immediately went into a cast for 2 weeks and mow in an Boot without the crutches. Same ankle I had a trimalleolar in 1996. I'm an exrunner. Doctors set it by hand 3x over a 5 month period. In hard casts from May until September and then when I went into a walking boot for 3 weeks after that I ran a half marathon! of course I was younge, healthier and stronger. Took a year for soft tissue swelling to go down. I also osteoporosis diagnosed in 2018 due to celiac combined with long-term vegan diet. I've been increasing my vitamin D3, K2, magnesium, calcium & extra protein. Should I be weight-bearing on an oblique fracture like this that's mildly displaced? What are my concerns after I come out of this boot and when can I come out of the boot . Just one week in the boot. It's exactly 30 days since I injured my ankle. The doctor wants me to be weight-bearing fast I was worried that it's mildly displaced I'm also worried about I was on a hill with my dog who pulled me and then I was wearing a very stiff tool boot that wouldn't bend so my ankle inside the boot did a 90° bend. Was it a legit fall or was it also the osteoporosis and what's going to happen afterwards in the next few months what do I have to worry about?.

I’m a weight lifter and got a fracture in my foot, I only need the boot for 3 weeks would that make problems and can I take it off when sleeping?

Help I'm a dancer singer Pro. ballerina Broadway dancer. broke my lt foot. hv a jones fracture 5th metatarsal. been in a boot . 100% non weight bearing for 7 weeks. I do leg strengthing . not foot.. am starting walking in boot next week. then PT. I'm scared. any thoughts

Oh you poor runners and athletes. Why don’t you just stop walking so much in your damn boot? Good lord, they are made to take MOST of the weight off the foot, and to immobilise your ankle so you can heal. They are NOT made to make you feel you can walk miles or stand all day. Take at least two weeks of total non-weight bearing to give your foot a rest! You can’t walk normally for at least two months once out of the boot, just be patient, it’s only a few weeks. You guys are only athletes, not so special that the rules don’t apply. Isn’t a bit of patience and slow recovery worth it? Facts. Me: Feb 9 2022: cuboid microfracture and fifth metatarsal avulsion fracture, right foot. Boot, 4 weeks, pain every hour of every day and edema which meant poor circulation and elevated foot for weeks after boot off. No idea why. Now, 4 months out of boot, and I can walk with little pain, but not without a limp. 2000 steps a day. Got my third X-ray and MRI to rule out any further hidden causes of pain, which has been my constant companion for 5 months. Oh, and get a shoe lifter or your hips will be way out of whack when you get out of the boot. If they could make really light boots that would help. Also, watch out for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, that was a nice little offshoot of my trauma. Pain: 9/10 for two months. But now it’s gone because it was caught early and managed by three professionals: pain doc, physio and podiatrist. I call them The P Team. Symptoms of CRPS: If your foot is red, your toenails stop growing and you can’t stand any touch on the injured foot, and you are disabled from horrific leg aches, get onto a CRPS specialist asap. Doing too little exercise or doing too much will cause flares-ups. But you must not stop moving, It’s a double-edged sword. It can spread, too.

I didnt get a diagnosis for 2 months and just walked on it in lots of pain. Will that damage recovery?

What’s the other option? Other than the boots? Is the cast the same?

I broke my 5th metatarsal. I'm in a boot but I've started aqua jogging in the pool. Is it enough to stay fit?

What about people who are NOT runners, but who just do low-intensity walking for 20 mins each day? Is 6 weeks in the boot okay for fractures? if not, what do we do?

I broke my tibia and fibula and was able to go back to playing soccer. Obviously you loose muscle strength and mobility that's why I did physical therapy before going back on the field. Oh you can also do exercises while on the boot to keep flexibility and strength.

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I like Dino nuggies they taste Nice

Fat people say to me all the time that "they do not go running to protect their knees" etc. etc. So what is the deal? Running is bad for the joints right?

So didn't listen and got hurt. good. Listen to the dr and not this clown. Runners are not different to us. Where is the scientific evidence to back this video up