A walking brace, also known as a walking boot, is a type of medical footwear used by podiatrists to protect the patient’s foot and ankle areas after an injury or surgical intervention in these areas.
The purpose of these shoes is to stabilize the foot and help it heal. They also aid in the redistribution of weight-bearing pressure throughout the shoe. The reduction in pressure allows for a faster recovery.
However, one thing that perplexes people is whether you should sleep in your walking boots. While foot injuries are very serious from the outside, it is critical to follow proper guidelines. This article focuses on the most frequently asked walking boot questions from people who are getting ready to sleep with walking boot on or off.
Should sleep with walking boot on or off?
Even when sleeping, you should not remove your walking boots during the first few weeks of your injury. In fact, you should only remove them when showering. If this bothers you, you can improve your comfort by loosening the straps or using a gel.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions, particularly among those who are about to put on one. In any situation, it is critical to follow the doctor’s advice, but when dealing with injuries, it is common practice to wear boots even when sleeping. Again, loosen the straps that secure the boots to improve wearing comfort and allow you to sleep better.
Another useful tip on the subject is to sleep with pillows around the boots. This will aid in the support of the foot and the management of the risk of displacement. Pillows will also protect the foot from any external forces that could aggravate the condition.
However, if you want to wear the boots to bed but are concerned about keeping your bedclothes clean, you could surround your feet with an old pillow that you won’t be using any longer. This way, you’ll get the necessary support and protection without sacrificing hygiene.
Importance of wearing walking boots at night
In some cases, your doctor may advise you to remove your boots while sleeping. However, it would only increase the risk of aggravating your foot injury. When you’re sleeping, you’re never sure where your foot is going, and you might hit it against a wall.
Furthermore, even if we eliminate this possibility, it is easy to forget that you have a foot injury while sleeping and end up putting a lot of pressure on the feet. As a result, you should wear your walking boots even while sleeping to avoid any risk and improve the safety of your feet.
As a result, the answer is yes. You can (and should) sleep in your walking boots. If you want to take them off at night, that’s fine. Taking them off, on the other hand, isn’t always the best option. Some people can remove their boots and sleep without incident, so it varies from injury to injury and person to person.
Wearing shoes to bed may seem strange, but when you have a broken ankle, you can actually focus on comfort. It is more important to fix the leg as soon as possible. Nonetheless, some people have a difficult time getting around this.
Why you should sleep in your walking boots
The Ankle Will Retain Its Form
The body naturally enters hibernation mode while sleeping, relaxing every muscle in your system. Nature’s way of healing the body after a long day at work. In the absence of walking boots, your ankle will be inactive, resting in an extended and pointed position. This makes wearing walking boots while sleeping a better idea.
It Acts as a Subtle Reminder
We’ve already discussed how easy it is to forget that you have a foot injury. When you sleep with your walking boots on, you’re giving your body a heads-up. This is especially beneficial when the foot is healing. Plus, you won’t be able to roll over on that foot.
Prevents further harm
People are often unfamiliar with the subconscious mind, which is yet another reason to wear walking boots to bed. If you injure your ankle while sleeping, the resulting pain will be unbearable. Not to mention the possibility of having to spend more money to fix it again. Furthermore, if you sleep with a pet or a partner, you will be deluded into thinking that unintentional kicking will not occur.
5 ways to bring walking boot discomfort while sleeping
If you find the walker boot uncomfortable while sleeping, there are a few things you can do to improve your comfort.
- #1 Loosen the straps on the boot to avoid cutting off blood flow while sleeping. When blood flow is obstructed while sleeping, it hurts like hell in the morning. Loosened about an inch or so, just enough to allow for some wiggle room but not enough to allow for excessive movement.
- #2 Get a gel heel cup to cushion your heel if the pain is usually concentrated in the heel. Without the gel heel cup, the pain may cause you to wake up several times during the night. In my opinion, the gel cup is far superior to pain medication, but that is just that – an opinion.
- #3 Sleep on your back with a pillow under your fractured foot to elevate it above your heart and prevent swelling of the leg.
- #4 If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs to increase comfort and align your back to reduce the possibility of pain.
- #5 Sleeping in the boot is a good idea because your foot tends to point downwards while you sleep, which can cause the tendons to stiffen. This is prevented by the boot.
What if I go to bed without my walking boot?
It’s not like sleeping in your walking boots will cause you to rupture your legs. However, you will be putting yourself in greater danger. You never know when you or your companion/pet will roll over and add to the damage.
Instead of wearing it perfectly fitted, you could wear it loose. The foot will retain its shape and the tendons will be loosened enough to allow you to sleep comfortably.
Aside from that, you could try removing the front plate. Remove it, and you’ll notice how much better your foot feels. Nonetheless, making this a habit is never a good idea.
Remember that it is only for a few weeks. After that, you are free to sleep as you please. However, if you injure your legs during the recovery stage, the healing time will be significantly extended.
How many hours should you wear a walking boot per day?
You are required to wear your walking boots at all times. The only time you don’t have to wear them is when you’re taking a shower. It’s pointless to get them wet. Aside from that, remember to keep the boots on even when sleeping.
In fact, you should emphasize the importance of wearing it while sleeping. During that time, you have no control over your body. You never know when you’re going to roll over. Furthermore, someone else may unintentionally kick your feet.
Conclusion
You can conclude from this article that wearing the walker boot while sleeping poses little risk. However, if it is off, there is a chance that you will cause serious reinjury.
There is a good chance you will be fine, but it is up to you to decide whether the risk of not wearing your walker boot is worth it. It is suggested that you loosen the straps slightly before going to bed, and you should have a good night’s sleep.
I’ve heard countless stories of people who were mistreated by their doctors and were advised to seek the advice of another doctor. This is to demonstrate that doctors are not the “be all, end all” and that we should not blindly follow them.
You should never blindly follow advice from a blog, but rather use it as a starting point to educate yourself so that you can be a better advocate for your own treatment.
I would advise everyone to conduct their own research before approaching their doctor. This article only points the way; you must choose the correct path. Listen to all conversations and make decisions based on your risk tolerance. See more useful article at my website shoestorenyc.com.
