Yes, You Need Crutches with a Walking Boot

A walking aid with aim of serving in providing support base to an individual — a crutch transfers legs weight to the upper part of the human body for the people who are unable in supporting their body weight through legs either experiencing a short-term injury or long-term disability. As the crutches originated from ancient Egypt which was first commercially manufactured and patented by Emile Schlick in 1917. The primary design of a crutch is based on a walking stick with an upper support of the arm. Modification in the design of the crutch has been up-to-date with respect to ease mobility aid consisting of features such as customizing the crutch with a feature of height adjustment. With the passage of time, the design has not therefore been completely transformed rather classic design is the commonly used one.

The four types of crutches include: Axillary (underarm), Triceps, Forearm (Elbow crutches), and Platform made up of materials such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer, thermoplastic, glass or carbon fiber reinforced composites, metal alloys, and wood. Regardless of crutch’s design, crutches are often used in pairs. The crutches’ use is primarily indicated based on conditions whether a patient has lost the limb use or is experiencing issues related to impaired strength and balance. Additionally, the use of crutches should be included in the initial treatment phase until and unless normal gait mechanics, ROM and strength is achieved. Therefore, it is recommended to take short steps while walking with crutches.

On the other hand, even after surgical treatment of ankle, it takes quite a long time to heal with immobilization serving as a critical treatment part. Short-leg boots for walking have known to be reported to consider it as an effective PCs — Plaster Casts that is expected to shorten this recuperative period of post-operation.

The introduction of walking boots in the market has significantly known to replace the crutches. As a walking boot, itself is utilized as mobility aid in terms of injury of soft tissues, stable fractures, rehab, trauma, sprains of grade 2 or 3 and potentially for post-operative use. Therefore, patients who use without crutches are expected to show significant faster recovery. As the design of equalizer walking foot provides the patient with specific fit and optimum comfort with a rocker shape base. Manufacturing and production of walking boots is ensured for a comfortable and safe environment for walking. As per providing the patients with more convenience, walking boots are primarily available in different sizes mainly XS to XL.

Walking boots consists of an adjustable heel lift allowing the patient to alter the position of ankle slightly plantarflexed providing assistance in walking pattern in a post-operative swollen ankle. With the fact, walking boots do tend to be hard in slipping on resulting in easy adjustment of the position of ankle in conformity with swelling in order to maintain the position i.e. least painful while walking. These boots provide better fixity allowing immediate weight-bearing condition. Additionally, no cases have known to be reported with loss of reduction in the weight post-operation. But, initially, walking without crutches might cause tinges of pain. Getting used to pain and start avoiding it will assist in a greater and faster recovery process with the elimination of the use of crutches. As the design of the rock bottom minimizes the motion of the sagittal plane in the particular foot joint facilitating the recuperation course. A fracture of ankle fixed inappropriate manner endures loading during the use of walking boots. Therefore, the treatment primarily through walking boots serves as a key way in faster recovery of functions, allowing the patients to get back to normal activities.

Can I Use Walker With a Walking Boot Instead?

The use of a wheelchair or walker with walking boots is not well aware. Although, there is availability of products like a combination of wheelchair and walker providing patients with assistance in greater management and performance of their usual activities. Regardless of the treatment, the recovery process of the patient requires experience of either no weight bearing through the use of wheelchair or partial weight-bearing through walker and walking boots and complete weight-bearing through crutches. Therefore, there are many ways to keep up with the options like no weight-bearing process until the injury recovers fully. Examination of needs, limitation, and style of life provides assistance in determination of what combination suits the best for you with a comparison of each product features as listed:

Wheel Chair:

· +100% NWB

· +Ability to elevate foot

Knee Scooter or a Knee Walker:

· + 100% NWB

· + Easy to use

· + Turns just like a bike

· + Stores small for easy transport and storage

· + Available for rental

Crutches:

· + inexpensive

· +easily available

· Can be used incorrectly

Walking boots:

· Moderate to expensive depending on its features

· Reduces and alters painful positions

· Requires understanding before use.

· Faster recovery

· Support to stand alone and walking activities such as climbing stairs

With respect to the mental and physical burden of a patient, as well as rampant discrimination and institutionalized accessibility lacking, the Mobility Deck say that problem of being disabled has been quite expensive. Based on the features of the devices, wheelchair and walker are clearly shown to be not able to use in combination. Whereas, wheelchair can significantly be used with walking boots. Despite the fact, walking boots stand for their valuable and potential features alone eliminating the need of using additional devices to improve its functionality.

Factually, it is suggested by some people that funniest comedians have known to experience depression and a life-altering disability. Thus, wearing shoes or walking boots while being on a wheelchair tends to assist the patient in reclaiming his/her legs with a growing hope of walking again. As the estimated time of an injury heal takes a period of 6 weeks depending on the will of the patient to recover fast and walk once again without any bumping in their legs. Thus, the use of walking boots in combination with a wheelchair can be significantly used in order to treat patients in both physical and mental manner. As the main purpose of providing suggestions of using walking boots is not primarily restricted to assist walking rather it is more focused on better settlement of their injury symptoms by preventing them from getting worse with great care. In addition, in order to gain foot flexibility again, the patient is advised to exercise and use walking boots for longer walking.