You are in pain now, if you are reading this. You have sustained some kind of injury to the foot and ankle area and know that you need a fracture boot or CAM walker. I wrote this article to help people in your situation. But first a disclaimer: You should see a Podiatrist, if you have a fracture or tendon rupture there is a chance the injuries will not heal on their own, you may need surgery, you may need a cast, go see a Podiatrist. Additionally, if you have insurance a lot of times these CAM walkers will be covered by insurance, don’t spend the money if you do not have too.
But, if you are uninsured and cannot afford a trip to the doctor (and Amazon will charge you less for the boot then a Podiatrist will). It depends on the type of injury and what you need, on what CAM walker or fracture boot you should get. So, I will detail the different types of CAM walkers or fracture boots and make you decision from there. Also, realize that all these boots come in different sizes small, medium, large and extra large.
Short Air Cam Fracture Boot– This fracture boot is ideal for the person who has a fracture on their foot and will be on crutches. This boot will break down easily if you walk on it, so I would only purchase this if your plan is to be on crutches. Also, if the injury is to your ankle do not get this boot, as this boot will not stabilize your ankle. However, if the injury is to your foot this boot will be lighter and easier to get on and off than the tall version.
Air Cam Fracture Boot– This is the larger version of the boot above. Again this boot will break down if you walk on it. But if you have an injury to your ankle and will be on crutches this is a good boot to get. Fracture boots tend to be easier to get on and off than walking boots, you will find.
Ossur Air Equalizer Low Top Walking Boot– This walking boot, if you are going to walk on your injury is ideal. This boot can take a great deal of punishment and is designed to be walked in. Again, this is a low height boot, so any fracture or sprain to the ankle do not get this boot.
Ossur Air Cam Walking Boot– This is like the walking boot above. If you intend on walking on your fracture,and you have the injury to your ankle, this would be the boot to get. It is very durable, and will hold up under stress.
Those are the four basic kinds of walking boots, CAM walkers or Fracture boots available. I hope this article aided you in making your decision.