Recovering from an ankle injury can be challenging when you cannot avoid moving around, such as when going to the bathroom, work, or doing minor chores around the house. You need to keep your ankle safe, protected, and as comfortable as possible in order to enhance your recovery and avoid complications.
If you’ve injured your ankle, you need to keep it stable to minimize movement of the joint, which is critical for healing. Second, keeping the ankle immobilized relieves pain and prevents a worsening of the injury. Finally, an unstable ankle can lead to accidents. For these reasons, patients with ankle injuries are usually recommended special footwear to assist with injury healing.
Walking Boots
Patients recovering from an ankle sprain or fracture usually need to wear a walking boot. A walking boot helps with pain and mobility. If the ankle sprain is classified as grade II, meaning a ligament is partially torn, a higher walking boot may be needed. Ankle fractures that are not severe, where the ankle is relatively stable, may require a walking boot. Severe ankle fractures may need surgery to realign the bones, and the walking boot serves as a postoperative boot as a replacement for the splint and cast.
Walking boots are available in different styles and heights and come with a wider footbed. Walking boots usually have a type of lining that helps decrease swelling. The inside is highly cushioned with a foam interior with great shock-absorbing quality. The sole is usually a rocker type to allow for a more natural step. To balance off the walking boot and help with mobility, doctors usually recommend a shoe leveler and balancer that goes on the other uninjured foot.
Orthopedic Shoes
There are even more choices for orthopedic shoes, which patients with mild ankle injuries can wear to prevent a worsening of the injury. Oftentimes, footwear contributes to ankle problems. Orthopedic shoes are designed for maximum support and comfort. Make sure to always select shoes designed to enhance your foot and ankle performance and health.
Custom Orthotics
Orthotics are fitted to your feet and accommodate your unique foot structure. Injuries like ankle tendonitis may respond to custom orthotics, which are available at the podiatrist’s clinic. Custom orthotics will help distribute weight evenly and provide support to arches. Symptoms of minor ankle injuries can be alleviated with custom orthotics.
It can be difficult to find the best footwear after getting an ankle injury. A foot and ankle doctor or podiatrist can prescribe special footwear for your needs.
Podiatrist in Southern Texas
Our podiatrists at The Podiatry Group of South Texas can provide everything you need to recover from an ankle injury, from conservative to minimally-invasive treatments as well as special footwear for a very comfortable recovery. Make an appointment with one of our podiatrists now. Call our podiatry clinic nearest to you or use our online request form.
