I tore the tendons in my foot and ankle and it wasn't healing until I got this boot. I had it immobilized and wrapped but it really needed a boot. I felt relief as soon as I put it on. I'm 5 4 and heavy set and the boot fit me fine. I got a medium and I'm a size 10 and it was a good fit. Sometimes a 10 shoe is a tad small for me. I think if you are are an 8-10 women's size a medium is good. Some people who were 10 said their toe came over the front, you need to make sure that you let all the air out before you put the boot on because it will push your foot forward The straps adjust and the pump makes it tighter on the sides. The boot is very comfortable and lightweight. There is enough room to wrap your foot and wear the boot. It doesn't come with a sock so you might want a long sock. The boot came several inches below my knee. I just wore a regular sock, the liner was really soft. I live in Florida and it wasn't hot. Happy with the boot and glad I spent the extra money.
I dislocated and fractured my ankle in 2 places. My orthopedic doctor suggested that I try Amazon for my cast as I'd save money. After some extensive research i decided that this one was the best option and i wasn't wrong!
The dual side air bladders made for a comfortable and secure fit. The fact that the controls are on the side, as opposed to on the front like other models, made using the knee cart a breeze. You can take the shin guard off for better sleeping.
There are replacement inner boots that i strongly recommend you purchase so you can switch them out every couple of days and keep them fresh. They do a great job of moisture wicking, so change them out. I added the long sock style liners too. They come in packs of 2, so buy at least 3 packs. They add a soft layer of protection and cover your toes.
I also recommend a can of sanitizer spray for the back/foot part as moisture can condense between the air bladder and the plastic shell. Powder helps to keep things dry too. My doctor appreciated that extra bit of effort! I'm also a diabetic, so keeping my feet healthy is priority.
It's easy to adjust the fit with this cast and it will take you from non-weight bearing to walking with ease. I blinged mine up a bit with some stick on rhinestones and it served me well. A very comfortable cast.
I fracturred my Left Tibula on vacation and needed to be off the ankle for 6 weeks-No surgery! I was informed by my orthopedist to purchase the long leg boot after he removed the cast splints (a hard/soft cast). I had been in a cast for 3 weeks prior and needed a boot for another 3 weeks. I'm in the Health Care Field and know quite a few things about what to look for in a boot. Comfort and support is among the most important. I viewed the other Walker Braces and found that this one with the Air Pump for both sides made the most sense. I'm required to wear the boot 24 hs/day and can only remove it during showers and sun bathing! The boot is easy to put on and easy to take off. The boot is very comfortable and I'm so happy about the purchase. I recommend the long socks that go past the actual boot. You could always fold it over the top part of the boot. In addition, a sock that is closed at the toes is also important when you go outside. I found that for sleeping, (yes, I have to sleep with it too) I could remove the front panel for better comfort at night. I placed a pillow case over the boot with a rubber band holding it in place so it kept the bed clean. I wiped the boot down with clorox wipes when I came into the house too. The price of the boot was extremely reasonable vs going thru my insurance company and AIRCAST is a reputable company. Summertime is never a good time to be in a cast/boot but this brand definitely makes it more tolerable. Good luck with the boot and Fast Healing everybody.
Please for the love of God buy a shoe lift for your other foot. If you don't you will injur your back and your hips. The leg wearing this boot will be a few inches longer now. Also this boot will crash your arch. The footbed is completely flat. You have to get some insoles with good strong arch support and some shock absorption. Get yourself a shinny rod of some kind to itch your leg through the day. Eventually the top part of the cast will dig into your shin. Take a soft thick sock and wrap it around that area and then put the boot on.
As for improvements the manufacturer should make. The foot portion needs 2 straps instead of one. The one it has is not enough to stop my foot from bending. The velcro strap on the foot portion is the completely wrong length. When I sinch it down on my wide size 13 foot there is less then 1 inch of velcro in contact and about 4 inches of excess material. This does have more shock absorption then a normal cast. Do not expect anything close to what an athletic shoe absorbs.
The doc put me in a Breg boot which was so clunky and full of Velcro straps that liked to stick to each other. I thought I'd go mad. So I found this one and it is lighter with only 3 straps that have yet to stick to each other.
It's pretty comfy and gives good support. Must admit that I cheat around the house and don't use the front plastic shield, but I do outside.
I will say that I ordered a Small, as I wear a woman's 7 or 7.5 and it was too small. So I sent it back and got a Medium which is much better.
I definitely recommend this boot! You're already frustrated enough having to wear a boot at all, so make it easy on yourself.
*UPDATE*
I am now at the 6 week mark with my broken leg (5 weeks in this boot) and I can say I have been really pleased with it. One thing to consider, though, if it's REALLY cold where you live, there are open areas around the top of the foot where cold can get in.
Feature Product
- Features a durable, semi-rigid shell that helps support the limb while providing full-shell protection
- SoftStrike technology absorbs and dissipates shock, while the lightweight and lab-tested rocker sole combine to encourage a natural gait
- Overlapping Duplex air cells line the shell providing intermittent pneumatic compression for 3-times faster edema reduction
- Designed with a sleek, open-frame that provides ventilation; Non-marking, skid resistant rubber tread allows for greater traction and longer wear
- Universal fit allows the Aircast AirSelect to be worn on either the left or right foot.Liner: Nylon/Polyurethane/Polyester (Outer/Foam /Inner mesh)
Description
The Aircast AirSelect Walker Brace / Walking Boot is the most-advanced walking boot, engineered to provide the ultimate in protection, comfort, and edema (swelling) control. The Aircast AirSelect has a durable, semi-rigid shell that helps support the limb while providing full-shell protection. Overlapping Duplex air cells line the shell providing intermittent pneumatic compression for 3-times faster edema reduction. The front panel is pre-inflated and combined with the overlapping air cells, which provides a total contact fit. SoftStrike technology absorbs and dissipates shock, while the lightweight and lab-tested rocker sole combine to encourage a natural gait and a continuation of everyday activities. The Aircast AirSelect features a sleek, open-frame design that provides ventilation. The non-marking, skid resistant rubber tread allows for greater traction and longer wear. Universal fit allows the Aircast AirSelect to be worn on either the left or right foot.
Wow!! Should have gotten this sooner!! My Husband has an achilles tendon problem that he has been suffering with for a While. He stepped off a ladder wrong and the tendon was injured where it attached to the heel bone. Simply walking was miserable for him. We tried the shorter braces, ice, heat, salves, you name it. I finally convinced him to try this walking cast as it was obvious that the injury needed to be immobilized in order to heal. He didn't want to do it thinking that he wouldn't be able to do the things he needs to do, like work or anything else. Boy was he wrong. From the first time he wore the boot the pain was just GONE. He couldn't believe it. He had suffered so much and now, something so simple as putting on this walking cast and the pain was gone. We own a roofing company and he is on the go constantly. This boot has not hindered him at all. He said it is very easy and natural to walk in. It just so happens that his work boot on the other foot is the perfect height for this Aircast but he does wear the even up thingy when he wears his casual shoes, which is sold separately. That's a must. This Aircast comes with a nice long, cushy cast sock but I bought 2 more so I could keep him with a clean one everyday. This Aircast is very durable. I'm amazed at how tough it is because he really puts it through a lot and it's still great. It's been about 2 or 3 weeks that he has worn it all day but takes it off as soon as he gets home and he is enjoying much improvement in pain reduction in the heel even without the boot being on so it is healing. I'm so happy that he is no longer suffering with that injury. If he wears this Aircast out before he is fully healed you can bet that I will buying another one. It's worth every penny.
I am somewhat of an Aircast expert. Over the past 10 months I have worn three different models for different breaks. (Genetic disease is a b*stard!) This model was not the most comfortable but it was the one that provided the best support and reduced swelling the most. My bone healed faster and "better" in this boot than in the others.
Other models worn:
Aircast FP
Aircast SP
I always buy an Aircast when I break a bone because they are so much better than the awful black walking boots the doctor provides!
After rolling my ankle I have a bad sprain and a fractured bone.I was given a brace at the VA ER but it was too big and just hurt when it was on. So hello Google and it led me to Aircast. I read everything they had to say about their walker cast models and soon found the Aircast Airwalker elite. So I ordered it and in 2 days it was at my door. I could not imagine what this could do to help me walk. It's plastic with some straps and foam liners, it also has air chambers. I'm a 250 lb 6ft 2in guy, in my mind it would not help. I put it on, walked around the house and thought ok and went back to the couch. The swelling was crazy, so I had little hopes this thing would help. So the next day I went to work, it hurt to walk, sit or move. I played with the air chambers on and off all day. Well it had been on about 12 hrs, I took it off and there was hardly any swelling. It actually felt better, I was impressed. So if you fracture your ankle it's going to hurt, so try this Aircast. I spent 130 dollars and some change and it was well worth it. I walk alot so I purchased the elite model. I wear a size 12 shoe and my toes are about a 1/2 inch from the end. It works great for me!
Liked:
Lower price than what the doctors office charges. (which my doctor confirmed)
Well made, easy to put on and take off.
Light weight
Came with long socks.
Dislike:
The valve connector at the back of the leg inside the boot seems to dig into the back of my calf. I had to put a bit of cushioning over that to be more confortable.
The small narrow velcro strip on the back top of the boot came undone and I will have to reglue it to help the top back padding strip to stay in place.
The push button inflator seems a bit flimsy, but it worked and never failed for me.
The release valve takes a lot of pressure to release the air, and hurt my little fingers, so I didn't use it very often.
I twisted my ankle and tried NOT to go to the doctor since I couldn't afford the cost with my high deductible. After trying to work in my kitchen for over 4 hours and being in extreme pain, once the boot came that same afternoon, I put the boot on, and NO MORE PAIN! It really immobilized my foot/ankle and really worked well. When I finally did go see my doctor, he was a bit put out that I purchased it on my own, but then confirmed that this boot was purchased at a really good price, and it was just what I needed to immobilize my ankle. Note, Ankle injuries need a long boot. Foot injuries need just a short boot. which was confirmed by my doctor.
Hint: Purchase the Pro Care EvenUP shoe Balancer which you wear on your opposite shoe so it balances you out when you walk.
I sprained my ankle about 10 weeks ago at the gym. Crutches for about a week of armpit tearing fun. Fast forward and I reinjured the same ankle while lifting everything we own during a move. Day two of the crutches and it was time to find an alternative. I believe this boot sped up the recovery through protection and limitation of movement. Personally, I saw the greatest recovery at night while sleeping with the boot on. My reinjury took a bit longer to heal because it was so much more extensive (45,000 steps on the ankle with no protection after the sprain to get the move completed) but without the boot I'm sure I would have been much slower. Wear the boot at night. It's itchy. It's uncomfortable. It's necessary. By the time day 4 passes, you can have the sock off four an hour and still feel every thread. It's almost maddening! But...I am grateful for it. I was black (normally pale white) and bruised from the bottom of my heel to the bottom of my calf. Day 5 of the boot and my swelling halved and was much, much less painful.
So, what is the tip? The tip is not for day one or two. When you are putting very little weight on the boot and walking gingerly (I used a crutches with the boot for two days, then one crutch for another two days, then very limited walking for two more days, and then trimmed 3 trees and tore apart a deck and clocked 20k steps the next) you don't feel the problem. The problem is, the boot is meant to fit either foot and it is completely flat inside. After you start putting weight on the boot and actually walking with it, your feet will scream in agony because there is no support. The tip is, as soon as you start putting weight on the foot at all, remove the insert from your shoe (or orthotics) and slip that baby into the boot. Life saver. Foot saver. Do-List tackler.
Also, unless you plan on haunting a castle for eternity and think a painful, awkward gait will provide a better effect, get the lift shoe to offset the boot. The offset shoe works best with a tennis shoe. When I tried it with a work boot, the work boot was too high with the lift, and too low without it. A low profile sole like chucks would be great with the lift. Also, prepare a clever response for the lift shoe. Everyone understands the boot, but the lift shoe will get lots of attention and questions.
If it's your right foot, or you have a clutch, please don't drive with it. I wasn't dumb enough to try it ;0 but the lack of sensory feedback or ankle movement may lead to erratic over-breaking or uncharacteristically slow acceleration from traffic lights. And, it's probably dangerous.
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