Fractures often lead to the situation of pain and deformity of bones. It is helpful to use stiff-soled walking shoes for fracture recovery, after some time or readily after you've fracture.
You can also use these shoes as recommended by your doctor. Fractures can be of many types and there are many different reasons for them.
The major symptoms of fractures are swelling and pain at that place. You may need to visit a doctor for it.
Your doctor may put a cast over your fractured bone or perform an operation by using a rod or a plate for the joining of your bone.
When you've got a cast, you need to take care of your bone. The first step of it includes keeping your foot in the proper position. This can be done by keeping your foot straight or by using supporting footwear.
Because you will must need to walk, which requires footwear.
That's why I am here recommending you some of the best stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery to keep your bones safe and make them heel soon.
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This shoe is specially designed for fractures.It covers a large area. The shoe provides warmth to the broken bone which makes it heel soon.
It has adjustable straps and an air pressure button to tighten the shoe by filling the air in.
It has adjustable straps and an air pressure button to tighten the shoe by filling the air in.
Says a Reviewer:
"Well, I don't really "like" this boot, but it's a necessary evil. Works great & is exactly what my doctor wanted me to have. The local medical supply place wanted me to pay $300 for it, so thanks Amazon for providing a great product at a fraction of the cost."-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to buy the right stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery?
Here are some key points to take under consideration while choosing a stiff-soled walking shoe for your fracture.Material:
Material is an important thing that should be taken under consideration during selecting any shoe. The material should be durable and strong. As the fractures do not heal so soon,The shoe must have strong and durable material. It will help you to use the same shoe throughout the healing process so, your foot can stay safe throughout the journey.
Sole:
Sole is another great factor on which the performance of a shoe depends. The sole must be strong and rigid. There are different types of soles available, make sure you choose the highly stable one.It will help you stay balanced. There could be a chance of slipping if the sole of the shoe is not rigid. It is hard to find such shoes out there.
That's why I am here sharing a list of highly recommended stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery.
Pressure:
The pressure which will come over your foot while you put on steps is a major factor to consider. You could have a different type of fracture.Make sure you select the shoe which provides off-loading of pressure from your injured place.
The wrapping of the foot inside the shoe and the pressure inside it; is also a major factor. If the shoe has the feature of pressure customization then, it's gonna give you a secure fit.
Breathability:
The breathability of a shoe mainly depends upon the material being used to design the shoe. It mainly depends upon the material of the upper surface.So, make sure that your shoe is breathable and able to serve you.
Rear Foot:
Rearfoot protection and support are also major factors in themselves. For an injured post-operative foot, it acts as a soul in the body. It should be supportive and non-cushioned.For a fractured foot if cushioning exists, then it will incur pain to you with every step.
Now, I am sure that you'll be ready to choose the best shoe for you!
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Stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery | Reviews
Below are those best stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery. I am sure you would like these and will choose the one; highly suitable for you.
Orthowedge Forefoot Off-loading shoe
Price:$24.99 ( May alter)
The ortho wedge off-loading shoe is specially designed for toe fractures. It helps you to use your heel for the place of toes when your toes are injured.
This shoe features a 15-degree angled bottom which provides support and protection to your toes which helps to protect them from further injury.
One of the two adjustable straps covers the metatarsal bones. It helps to promote the healing of fractured metatarsals. The other strap covers the heel area, which provides support while walking.
It also regulates the healing of the heel area if injured. The toe area is wide and off-loaded. You can easily wear bandages in this shoe. This shoe is helpful if you have a hallux rigidus.
The outsole of this shoe is hard and rigid. It is a slip-resistant, durable outsole.
The shoe is universal and can be used to wear on either foot. An orthopedic recommended soft insole is provided with this shoe.
This shoe is durable enough to last for long period.
PROS:
● 15-Degree angled bottom● Adjustable straps
● Toe offloading feature
● Wider toe area
● Stiff and rigid outsole
CONS:
❖ You will need to wear a higher platform shoe on your other foot or you will get a gait issue.Recommendation:
To accommodate heavy bandaging, order half a size up.Directions:
Simply slip your foot into the ortho wedge shoe, secure, and adjust with the straps above the foot and around the ankle.OR
You can wear the shoe by opening the straps and then putting your foot within, then close the straps.
Vive Wedge Post-Op stiff-soled Shoe for foot fracture
Buy now from Amazon
Price :$24.99 ( May alter)
The vive wedge post-operative shoe is designed to shift the pressure of your foot to the toe and midfoot. It provides a heel offloading wedge rocker bottom, which shifts all the pressure to your toes.
If you have fractured heel bone or some type of bony heel surgeries, plantar fasciitis ulcerations, wounds, or sores, and you need to unload your heel then this shoe is going to help you a lot.
This shoe provides you an open square toe design, so it can be worn on any of the feet. It easily accommodates bandages and swellings.
The shoe has two wide adjustable straps. One at the toe area and the other at the heel. You can also custom adjust the width of the shoe.
The rocker bottom sole helps to promote natural gait and to heal the wound soon. It is hard and rigid. It has slip-resistant and lightweight features.
Price :$24.99 ( May alter)
The vive wedge post-operative shoe is designed to shift the pressure of your foot to the toe and midfoot. It provides a heel offloading wedge rocker bottom, which shifts all the pressure to your toes.
If you have fractured heel bone or some type of bony heel surgeries, plantar fasciitis ulcerations, wounds, or sores, and you need to unload your heel then this shoe is going to help you a lot.
This shoe provides you an open square toe design, so it can be worn on any of the feet. It easily accommodates bandages and swellings.
The shoe has two wide adjustable straps. One at the toe area and the other at the heel. You can also custom adjust the width of the shoe.
The rocker bottom sole helps to promote natural gait and to heal the wound soon. It is hard and rigid. It has slip-resistant and lightweight features.
The heel cup is very supportive and can easily accommodate bandages or swelling in the heel due to the adjustable heel strap.
The shoe provides you a soft insole yet not much soft or cushioned, so can be easily used for fractures.
The shoe provides you a soft insole yet not much soft or cushioned, so can be easily used for fractures.
NOTE:
By wearing this shoe, you may feel some imbalance between the other foot, because most of the post-operative shoes for patients including this shoe, stay a bit high.You will need to wear some type of shoe balancer with the other shoe. But don’t worry I already have chosen one and included that in this article.
PROS:
● Heel offloading feature● Lightweight
● Adjustable straps
● Rocker stiff bottom
CONS:
❖ You may feel an imbalance with the other shoe if you are not using some type of shoe balancer.❖ It shifts all the pressure to the toe and midfoot so, you may feel pain in the knee or below the knee area due to long time walk because you are not habitual to walk in such a shoe like this.
Warranty:
The company allows you a warranty of two months so, if the shoe gets worse before two months you can easily replace it.Even up Shoe Balancer and leveler
Buy now from Amazon
Price :$21.99 ( May alter)
Here is the game-changer. The even-up shoe balancer/leveler is designed to balance your foot if you are wearing some post-operative shoe.
As most of the post-operative patients’ shoes are high and it becomes compulsory to wear a balancer with them.
This balancer provides adjustable height that offers 1/3” or 2/3” or 1” lift. You can adjust the height according to your need.
This shoe is designed by orthopedic doctors and is tested by 1000s of people. It proves to be very helpful for all of the patients.
The listing on Amazon is for size medium. It fits Men 8.5-10.5 & Women 9-11. There are 7 sizes available: Refer to the size chart. If you are between sizes, I suggest that you select the smaller size.
This balancer is universal in itself. It can be used for either left or right foot.
Price :$21.99 ( May alter)
Here is the game-changer. The even-up shoe balancer/leveler is designed to balance your foot if you are wearing some post-operative shoe.
As most of the post-operative patients’ shoes are high and it becomes compulsory to wear a balancer with them.
This balancer provides adjustable height that offers 1/3” or 2/3” or 1” lift. You can adjust the height according to your need.
This shoe is designed by orthopedic doctors and is tested by 1000s of people. It proves to be very helpful for all of the patients.
The listing on Amazon is for size medium. It fits Men 8.5-10.5 & Women 9-11. There are 7 sizes available: Refer to the size chart. If you are between sizes, I suggest that you select the smaller size.
This balancer is universal in itself. It can be used for either left or right foot.
Recommendation:
Please refer to sizing instructions before purchase.Darco SlimLine Cast Boot after fracture
Price :$19.99 ( May alter)
The Darco slim-line cast boot is designed to wear when you have some type of light metatarsals or hallux fracture. It supports walking and daily job activities. The bottom is not cushioned and is very supportive.
This shoe features three adjustable straps that can be used to adjust the width. One strap is located just above the metatarsals, the second is at the heel cup and the third is at the end of the foot, which is almost 3-4 inches above the ankle.
The shoe has a wide square toe area. Either foot can be used to put this up. It is a stiff-soled shoe with a supportive hard bottom.
This shoe is just recommended to use if you have light metatarsals or toe fractures.
If you have an ankle or some type of heel fracture, then this shoe is not for you because this shoe doesn’t offer the desired support to the ankle and heel.
Along with this, the shoe doesn’t have any type of offloading feature.
PROS:
● Supportive stiff sole● Forefoot support
● Adjustable straps
CONS:
❖ Not designed for broken ankle or heel❖ No size description
United Ortho-Air Cam Walker Fracture Boot
Buy now from Amazon
Price :$48.99 ( May alter)
This united ortho air cam boot is specially designed for fractured and post-operative foot and lower leg. It focuses all the pressure mainly on the heel area and the sides of your leg.
This shoe will be awesome and perfect to use if you have acute ankle sprains, soft tissue injuries, unstable lower leg, foot and ankle fractures, and post-operative wounds.
The shoe features a rocker bottom sole with a hard and stiff outer shell. The inner of the shoe provides a soft crepe-bandage type material.
The whole shoe is lined with that material. Your foot stays in that material and it also helps to keep your fractured bones warm which increases the healing process.
The shoe provides five adjustable straps that stay from toes to the lower leg. The straps are used to wrap the foot. The Toe area is wide and square. This shoe fits both legs either the right or left.
To wear the shoe just open all the straps open the liner and place your foot within, then close the liner according to the pressure needed and then wrap the straps.
You can also adjust the compression of this shoe after wearing it as this shoe provides you air compression feature. You can adjust the compression by using the air pump.
Rocker bottom provides you a natural way to mobilize your gait.
The shoe is also very helpful if you have some Tibia or Fibula bone fracture.
Price :$48.99 ( May alter)
This united ortho air cam boot is specially designed for fractured and post-operative foot and lower leg. It focuses all the pressure mainly on the heel area and the sides of your leg.
This shoe will be awesome and perfect to use if you have acute ankle sprains, soft tissue injuries, unstable lower leg, foot and ankle fractures, and post-operative wounds.
The shoe features a rocker bottom sole with a hard and stiff outer shell. The inner of the shoe provides a soft crepe-bandage type material.
The whole shoe is lined with that material. Your foot stays in that material and it also helps to keep your fractured bones warm which increases the healing process.
The shoe provides five adjustable straps that stay from toes to the lower leg. The straps are used to wrap the foot. The Toe area is wide and square. This shoe fits both legs either the right or left.
To wear the shoe just open all the straps open the liner and place your foot within, then close the liner according to the pressure needed and then wrap the straps.
You can also adjust the compression of this shoe after wearing it as this shoe provides you air compression feature. You can adjust the compression by using the air pump.
Rocker bottom provides you a natural way to mobilize your gait.
The shoe is also very helpful if you have some Tibia or Fibula bone fracture.
PROS:
Toe, ankle, and lower leg supportRocker bottom
Comfortable warm lining
Air pump
Adjustable straps
CONS:
Shifts most of the pressure to the heel area, you may not be able to put more weight.Most people face the problem of air pumping. They feel difficult to use it.
Warranty:
The company guarantees that all products are free from defects in materials and workmanship for six months from the date of purchase. For warranty claims or questions, contact 1-800-227-8748.Sizing:
Small fits men's 4.5-6.5 and women's 6-8 shoe size. Please refer to the size chart before making a purchase.BraceAbility Padded Night shoe
Buy now from Amazon
Price :$34.99 ( May alter)
This shoe is specially designed to wear at night. It keeps your foot in place and provides 90-degree angled support.
The shoe features three wide adjustable straps, an additional soft foam wedge, and a soft inside lining. The sole of the shoe is made of plastic, which is further linked by a soft foam material.
It provides comfort and support to your fractured foot and helps to keep it in a supportive 90-degree position over the night, which greatly induces the healing process and eliminates the risk of morning pain.
The shoe features three wide adjustable straps that are also linked with the soft material and are used to adjust the width through sticking.
This feature helps to use bandages with the foot.
Another feature, which also contributes a lot to the healing process is the additional foam wedge.
This shoe provides you an extra foam wedge that you can use to customize the stretch on your metatarsals or the toes.
The shoe is washable and supportive but it has a major fault of the material.
No doubt, it is very soft and comfortable but it is also not durable and the sticking no longer stays. It also wears out soon.
So, if you are going to use this shoe for the short term, then it will be the best.
Price :$34.99 ( May alter)
This shoe is specially designed to wear at night. It keeps your foot in place and provides 90-degree angled support.
The shoe features three wide adjustable straps, an additional soft foam wedge, and a soft inside lining. The sole of the shoe is made of plastic, which is further linked by a soft foam material.
It provides comfort and support to your fractured foot and helps to keep it in a supportive 90-degree position over the night, which greatly induces the healing process and eliminates the risk of morning pain.
The shoe features three wide adjustable straps that are also linked with the soft material and are used to adjust the width through sticking.
This feature helps to use bandages with the foot.
Another feature, which also contributes a lot to the healing process is the additional foam wedge.
This shoe provides you an extra foam wedge that you can use to customize the stretch on your metatarsals or the toes.
The shoe is washable and supportive but it has a major fault of the material.
No doubt, it is very soft and comfortable but it is also not durable and the sticking no longer stays. It also wears out soon.
So, if you are going to use this shoe for the short term, then it will be the best.
PROS:
● Lightweight● Provides 90-degree support
● Additional foam wedge
● Adjustable straps
● Universal
CONS:
❖ For short term use❖ The straps wear out soon
Recommendations
Get this shoe only if you are going to use it for a short time, it provides night support only.BraceAbility Short Fractured Toe Boot
Price :$39.99 ( May alter)
The braceability short boot is very comfortable and customizable and it is specially designed to help people with toe fractures.
It helps broken toe, metatarsals, and heel to heal soon. It features three adjustable straps and a comfortable insole liner.
The insole liner provides comfort and heat to your foot, which helps the bones to heal soon. The whole shoe is easily adjustable.
The insole liner is removable and the straps also allow custom adjustment.
You can easily remove the insole and keep it as tight as you need and then place it in the boot. You are not bound to curl your foot to wear the shoe. It greatly reduces the pain.
The insole is packed within a hard shell. The shell acts as the outsole of the shoe. It has a hard, rigid, and stiff sole, which reduces the risk of slipping.
The outsole has a rocker bottom. It allows you to walk also and during walking, you can manage your household jobs.
It helps to protect the shoe during daytime and promote the healing of foot fractures.
The shoe has a wide-open toe box, you can even wear bandages along with these shoes. It also helps you when your foot has swelled due to fractured bones.
The shoe is universal and has no air pump to regulate the pressure. It allows you to customize the pressure and the width also.
The insole liner provides comfort and heat to your foot, which helps the bones to heal soon. The whole shoe is easily adjustable.
The insole liner is removable and the straps also allow custom adjustment.
You can easily remove the insole and keep it as tight as you need and then place it in the boot. You are not bound to curl your foot to wear the shoe. It greatly reduces the pain.
The insole is packed within a hard shell. The shell acts as the outsole of the shoe. It has a hard, rigid, and stiff sole, which reduces the risk of slipping.
The outsole has a rocker bottom. It allows you to walk also and during walking, you can manage your household jobs.
It helps to protect the shoe during daytime and promote the healing of foot fractures.
The shoe has a wide-open toe box, you can even wear bandages along with these shoes. It also helps you when your foot has swelled due to fractured bones.
The shoe is universal and has no air pump to regulate the pressure. It allows you to customize the pressure and the width also.
PROS:
● Adjustable straps● Customizable pressure
● Soft removable insole
● Hard rocker bottom outsole
CONS:
❖ The heel is not much support and you may feel slipping at that spot.❖ The shoe is not refundable.
Directions:
Open all hook and loop closures, place your foot inside the liner by sliding your heel to the back of the boot.Adjust the pressure according to your need by closing the liner starting from your toe and moving towards the leg and then tie the hook and loop straps.
Make sure that the straps are tightly tied. Attach extra foam pads to the liner with a hook anywhere you feel uncomfortable pressure or gaps.
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FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the best stiff-soled walking shoes for fractures recovery.
What are the best shoes for fractures recovery?
If you've been suffering from a foot fracture, it is good for you to use off-loading shoes. There are two types of off-loading shoes.
The first type off-loads the toe. This type of shoes are best for people with heel bone fracture or Achilles tendinitis.
The second type off-loads the heel area. This type of shoes are best for people with metatarsals (toe bones) fracture.
Going through the condition and type of your fracture, you can choose the required one.
Is it good to walk with a stress fracture in the foot?
The simple answer to this question is no. Because the stress fractures mostly occur due to regular stress on the foot due to weight-bearing activities.So, if you continue to put stress on your foot even after you have symptoms of big metatarsal fractures, it may lead to further pain and deformation.
To protect your foot from further disorder, visit your doctor or try to use suitable shoes from our recommended list of stiff-soled walking shoes for fracture recovery.
It will surely help you reduce the pain and to protect the foot from further injury. These shoes will also help you to heal your post-operative foot.
What are the symptoms of a stress fracture?
Stress fractures most probably occur at the metatarsal bones. The cause of these fractures is regular stress on these bones.The most widely seen symptoms are pain at the metatarsals during walking or running. Swelling at that is also a symptom of this type of fracture.
Can a stress fracture heal itself?
Mostly the fracture does not heal on its own. Some painkiller medicines like ibuprofen etc. help to reduce pain.Your doctor may recommend you rest, using a warm bandage if you've got a stress fracture. It will help you to heal soon.
How long will it take to heal the foot fracture?
Widely it takes 4 to 5 weeks to heal the foot fracture. But the post-operative big fractures mostly take 4 to 5 months to heal.You should need to wear a walking boot for about 3 to 4 weeks or as recommended by your doctor.
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Features Comparison Chart
Types of Foot Fractures
Our foot contains 26 bones which are further classified into 5 different types. Each one has its distinct features and functions. The types include phalanges, metatarsals, tarsals, talus, and calcaneus.
Here are some typical types of fractures caused by the majority of people.
Metatarsals fractures
Metatarsal bones are located at the mid-place of your foot. You can also see these in the diaphragm. These bones create the body of the foot, these are numbered as five.The metatarsal bone that lies behind the thumb is called the first metatarsal and which lies behind the last finger is the fifth metatarsal.
These bones are mostly fractured due to stress resulting in weight-bearing activities and high running etc. This fracture causes difficulty in walking, swelling, and pain in the metatarsals.
This type of fracture can be healed by taking bed rest and wearing a supportive, protective shoe.
Hallux fractures or toe fracture
The toe is created by the phalanges bones. Each toe is made of three different bones except for the big thumb. The thumb consists of only two bones.Most probably the fracture occurs at the big toe bone. It can also be due to stress or the drag of some heavy object on the toe. This type of fracture also causes severe pain and leads to difficulty walking.
Using toe supportive shoes which provide offloading for the toe helps to heal it soon. Some pain killer medicines like ibuprofen can also be used to reduce pain.
Heel or ankle fracture
The talus bone is called the heel of the foot. It is the biggest bone of the foot. It points upward and provides support to the whole foot. It can be fractured due to some accident or some other cause.The fracture of this bone never heals on its own rather you need to visit a doctor for proper surgery to earn its cure.
You can use heel offloading shoes designed for broken feet or ankles, which shift the weight to the toes. to get relaxation.
The Tibia or Fibula bone fracture
These bones are not counted as the bones of the foot rather these are the bones of the lower leg. These bones are attached to the heel and act as backbones in providing support to the foot.These bones can be fractured due to accidents etc. These bones need some type of physical therapy to heal. Their healing is also time-consuming.
A specially designed stiff-soled shoe for fractures, that provides support to the foot including these bones, be the best to use in such circumstances.
Causes of Foot Fractures
There are widespread causes of foot fractures, some of which are also discussed above. Stress is noted as the major cause of foot fractures resulting in severe pain.It can be caused by using the wrong shoe. A stress fracture can be due to a no-supportive, non-cushioned shoe. Other causes can be accidents and heavy objects dragged on the foot mistakenly.
In Short, they can be of several kinds but a stiff-soled shoe with zero cushioning can help you in these cases.
Reasons for using stiff-soled shoes for fractured foots
The reason for using such shoes is that these shoes offer zero cushioning and custom adjustability features. These shoes also offer several other features.Some of them provide toe offloading and some of them provide heel offloading features.
These shoes provide stability and support to the fractures and post-operative foot while offering a key role in promoting healing.
Using a medically designed shoe helps you to stand on your foot quickly and get back to your job soon. You can also buy some surgical shoes for this job.
