Have you ever stubbed your toe so hard or dropped an object so heavy on your toe that you ended up in pain for weeks? A small but concentrated force on your toe can cause it to break.
Some of the common symptoms and signs of a broken toe are[1]:
- A “pop” sound as soon as your toe hits an object
- Immediate throbbing pain that can last for a few hours
- Difficulty standing or walking with normal footwear
- Visually, the toe looks out of alignment
- Swelling, bruising, or discoloration for multiple days
- A burning sensation in the toe
- Damaged toenail
If you find yourself with a significant injury to your toe, we recommend that you visit your doctor for an X-ray or MRI to check for the possibility of a toe fracture. Mild broken toes may be treated by taping it to its neighbouring toe. However, more severe breakages may require surgery and a cast or walking cast boot to help with recovery.
In this article, we review the best walking boots for a broken toe. The table below provides a quick snapshot of the best boots, and we go into more details further below.
Contents
Will a Walking Boot Help a Broken Toe?
When recovering with a broken toe, it is best to avoid movement with that foot as much as possible for a few days. However, those of us who are busier may still need to move around. This is where a good walking boot comes in. Your doctor may assign you to wear a walking boot in order to minimize movement of the broken toe while it heels, as well as protect it from your environment.
When you wear a walking boot, your toes will be immobilized. You will still be able to move your leg as a whole, but the toe remains firmly in place, thereby protecting it from further harm and giving it time and opportunity to heal.
For mild toe injuries, taping your toes together may be an option. However, more severe toe injuries, especially ones that involve fractures, should ideally be protected with a walking boot. To understand why wearing a walking boot can be important, watch the video below:
Now, let’s look at some of the best walking boots for a broken toe.
Best Recommended Walking Boots for a Broken Toe
#1 – BraceAbility Short Broken Toe Boot
The BraceAbility Short Broken Toe Boot comes in various sizes to comply with different foot sizes. It is designed for a person to wear and walk for the whole day. It gives full coverage to the foot and its injured parts. The one boot can be worn on either leg. It also has a shock-absorbing boot liner that provides a cushion to the bottom of the feet and has soft pads that give comfort.
Features and Benefits
- Outer covering: The boot is made up of polymer plastic from the outside. It is a very rigid material to protect the user from reinjury.
- Inner material: The boot’s augmented shell gives full protection and comfort to the foot and ankle. It has a comfortable, deluxe foam liner, which provides cushioning to the user’s foot.
- Adjustable strap: It has an alterable fastener strap that allows the user to get a secure fit, and it makes walking easy for the person.
- Shoe design: It has a wide toe bed and open toe design as well. It gives a proper room for swollen foot and the bandaged leg.
Why should you buy it?
The Brace Ability Short Broken Toe Boot is clinically proven to protect and treat a metatarsal fracture, ankle sprain, broken foot, toe fracture, or ankle injury. It is very light in weight. It has a three-strap system that provides comfortable fitting. It helps the user to walk easily and comfortably. It has a Velcro strap that allows for a customized fitting to the leg. The boot is made for both males and females.
Why It’s Our Top Choice
The BraceAbility Short Walking Boot - Orthopedic Medical Walker Cast for Broken Toe Injuries, Sprained Ankles, Metatarsal Stress, Post-Op Support Left or Right Foot Fracture Shoe Fits Men and Women (M)is our top choice for Best Walking Boot For Broken Toe for the following reasons:
- It is made of rigid polymer material.
- It gives support and full coverage to the injured foot.
- It has a shock absorbing boot liner.
- The boot has three strap systems for a customized fit.
- It has a Velcro fastener that gives a secure and comfortable fit to the leg.
- The boot is designed both for males and females.
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#2 – United Ortho Short Cam Walker Fracture Boot
The United Ortho Walker Boot is made of plastic molded uprights with steel reinforcement for a durable construction. There are different sizes available to fit the user. It is advisable for the user to look at the size chart prior to purchasing. The wide fit gives comfort to the toes so that they are not scrunched up.
Features and Benefits
- Plastic Material: It is made up of plastic molded uprights combined with steel support for durability. The rocker sole encourages more regular walking as it eases the foot stride.
- Sole provides shock absorption: The insole is ideal for people who need to walk for long. The structure of the boot has a wide foot bed that gives comfort to the foot and ankle. A wide foot bed is also ideal for people with wide toes or with a bandage.
- Fits all: It fits both over the right and left foot. It is suitable for a person up to 300 pounds in weight.
Why should you buy it?
The United Ortho boot gives support and stability to the injured leg. The walking boot can be used for an acute , , a or , and post-operative use. The insole cushions the heel strike when walking. Its rocker sole allows the user to walk with more ease and do daily chores effortlessly.
#3 – MARS Wellness Air Cam Short Walker Boot
The Mars Wellness Air Cam Short Walker Boot is made of plastic and steel of premium quality. The foam provides a cushion to the bottom of the foot. It can fit on either of the feet. It is created with tough broad sole that allows for natural, fluid movement.
Features and Benefits
- Designed for various injuries: It is manufactured to treat soft tissue injuries, a sprained ankle, fractures as well as ankle and toe sprains. It is also a good fracture walking boot for stress fractures.
- Air valve: The unique feature of the boot is its air valve. The boot comes with a button that opens an air valve, which allows for ventilation to keep the boot dry and hygienic.
- Outer material: It is made of plastic, which protects the boots from water and heat. It uses an inflatable air bladder that provides compression to the foot and ankle. It gives stability while walking.
- Inner liner: It also has a foam liner with a hook fastening strap that ensures a quick and easy fit, as well as comfort throughout the day.
Why should you buy it?
The Mars Wellness Air Cam Short Walker Boot has an air bladder attached to give extra relief to the ankle. To get the best fit, the user can pull up on the liner’s back, and it will bring the heel close to the boot.
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#4 – Superior Braces Low Walker Boot
The Superior Braces Low Top, Non-Air, Low Profile Medical Orthopaedic Walker Boot is designed for soft tissue injuries, sprains, stable fractures, and post-operative stabilization. This boot will help to lessen the pain, swelling, and edema of the foot and ankle.
Features and Benefits
- Fastening Straps: It also has a fastening strap for a secure fit, which is easy to use. It helps the person to lessen pain and swelling.
- Light in weight: This is very light. It is very comfortable for daily use. It can easily fit either leg of the user.
- Materials: The boot is made of molded plastic that ensures good stability and provides full coverage to the injured leg.
- Different design: It comes in two varieties: low top and high top models. The rocker sole and shock absorbing insole provides comfort to the leg, making it suitable for daily activities.
Why should you buy it?
The boot is lightweight, making it easy to wear all day long. It is made of plastic material, which is safe from water and heat. It comes in various sizes, so the user should check their sizing before making their purchase. The boot is made in such a way that it can be worn on either of the legs.
#5 – Mars Wellness Premium Walker Boot
The Mars Wellness Premium Air Cam Tall Walker boots designed to stabilize a sprained or , as well as all sorts of other ankle and foot injuries. It has an upgraded pneumatic system that opens air valves for ventilation. It does well to support swelling patterns throughout the healing process. It is very comfortable for daily activities.
Features and Benefits
- Outer covering: It is made of plastic, which protects the boots from water and heat. It is constructed with a polymer material that gives durability and is lightweight.
- Inner Cushion: It uses an inflatable air bladder that provides compression to the foot and ankle. It also has a foam liner with a hook fastening strap that ensures a quick and easy fitting.
- Air valve: It is manufactured to treat soft tissue injuries, sprains, fractures, and a sprained ankle. It is a great walking boot for stress fractures. The boot comes with a button that opens its air valve. It is also designed with modeled struts to provide greater surface area contact, reducing pressure points.
Why should you buy it?
The boot is made of plastics and steel. The foam provides cushioning to the bottom of the foot. It can fit on either of the feet. It has an air bladder attached that gives extra relief to the ankle. To get the best fit, the user can pull up on the liner’s back, and it will bring the heel close to the boot.
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#6 – Orthotronix Short Cam Walker Boot
The Orthotronix Cam Walker Short Boot has an arching rocker design that encourages a smooth walk that requires less energy and makes it easier to do daily tasks even with a foot injury. The boot has comfortable fastening straps that helps the user to get the proper fit.
Features and Benefits
- Material: The boot’s outer body is made of plastic, and the inner liner has an easy release technology for compression. It limits the movement of the lower leg, ankle, and foot. It also has cushioned heels that give for shock absorption and have solidstraps to give a proper fit.
- Open-toe design: This is designed for sprains, fractures, soft tissue injuries, and post-operative stabilization. The boot is open from the front that help the leg breathe.
- Fit for all: The boot has a universal fit for use on either foot. It can bear weight up to 250 lbs.
Why should you buy it?
It is designed to provide full support to the injured foot and helps in faster recovery. It is designed to support broken toes, stress fractures, metatarsal fractures, sprains, and toe injuries. This orthopedic boot helps the person to move around comfortably and enables them to perform daily activities with less concern about their injury.
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Buyer’s Guide: Best Walking Boot for Broken Toe
Boot height
There are two types of walking boots available in the market: high-top and low-top.
High-top boots bandage around the leg from toes to the middle of the calf. These types of boots are used to treat injuries or conditions impacting the ankle or the calf. They are made of a plastic outer shell combined with a cushioned material inside the boot. They are normally secured with a fastening band.
Low-top boots extend only from toe to ankle. These are for injuries impacting the foot, heel, or ankle. This type of boot also comes with a cushioned bottom that helps for comfortable walking. For a look at more low-top boot and shoe options to help with recovery of foot, heel, or ankle injuries, see our review on the best shoe for a broken toe.
Strap
Many boots are secured with a Velcro strap. It keeps the leg secure and provides a tailored fit.
Lining
Walking boots are always lined with a soft material on the interior, often constructed of foam and fabric. The lining helps to fully envelop the foot, providing full coverage, support, and comfort while walking. If you intend to use your walking boot in warmer weather, considering choosing a boot with a thinner and more breathable lining, as well as a boot with ventilation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How is a broken toe typically treated?
A broken toe is typically treated with a combination of pain relief with medications, bone reduction, surgery, and immobilization.
If the piece of bone around your toe do not fit snugly together after your injury, your doctor may reposition (reduce) the bones so that they do. This can normally be done non-invasively and with anesthetic.
Surgery may be necessary to place pins, plates, or screws around to the toe to keep it in its proper position while it heals.
Finally, the toe would further be immobilized either by taping it to a neighbouring toe or with a like a walking boot, depending on the severity of the toe breakage.
Q. What type of walking boot should I purchase for a broken toe?
What type of walking boot to use will depend on the extend of the injury. If the injury is limited to the toe, a low-top boot will likely suffice, as it covers the length of the foot and the ankle, which is more than enough to protect the toe.
If you also sustained an or any portion of the leg above the ankle was also injured whilst injuring the toe, a high-top boot would likely be more protective, as it will stabilize everything up to the middle of the calf.
Q. How should a walking boot fit?
When purchasing a walking boot, ensure that the size you select fits well. It should fit tight enough that there is minimal movement and shifting of your foot and toes, though not so tight that your foot or leg hurts while walking. A boot that is too tight may also limit blood supply to the injured toe, slowing recovery time.
Thankfully, walking boots are typically designed such that they can be worn on either leg.
It is recommended to consult your doctor for help and recommendations for the fitting of your boot.
Q. Is it okay to walk on a broken toe while I’m recovering?
While recovering with a broken toe, you should be able to walk and continue many activities within a within a week or two after injuring your toe, as long as they are non-strenuous activities and you are wearing a walking boot throughout the activities. The walking boot is intended to prevent movement of your toe and protect it from harm so that you can walk even while it is healing.
Initially, you will likely feel pain around your broken toe, though the pain should diminish gradually as you heal. If the pain in your toe becomes worse after doing an activity or worsens day by day, stop the activity that’s causing the pain and consult your doctor.
Q. How long does it take a broken toe to heal, and how long should I wear a walking boot for?
Most broken toes can heal within four to six weeks, depending on the severity of the breakage. However, if the toe breakage involved an open wound, the toe and its bones have the potential to become infected, potentially prolonging the recovery period. Toe breakages may increase risk of future osteoarthritis in that toe in case where a fracture extends to a toe joint.
Your doctor may request you to wear your walking boot for anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks, depending on the extent and severity of your toe injury.
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Parting Words – Better Safe Than More Ouch
In this article, we examined how a walking boot can help you to recover after breaking a toe, by lessening your pain and enabling you to move around while keeping your toe in place for safe recovery. We also took a look at some of the best walking boots on the market that can be used for stabilizing a broken toe as well as the structures around it.
In our opinion, the BraceAbility Short Walking Boot - Orthopedic Medical Walker Cast for Broken Toe Injuries, Sprained Ankles, Metatarsal Stress, Post-Op Support Left or Right Foot Fracture Shoe Fits Men and Women (M) is the best choice among the various options that we considered, because it gives full coverage to the foot and toe. One boot can be worn on either leg. It also has a shock-absorbing liner that provides cushioning to the bottom of the feet.
The United Ortho USA14013 Short Cam Walker Fracture Boot, Small, Black is our next best choice because it is made of plastic molded uprights combined with steel support, making for a durable boot. Its rocker sole enables smoother gait and encourages more regular walking.
If you are looking for a value for money option, you can also consider the SB Superior Braces (Size Medium) Low Top, Non-Air, Low Profile Medical Orthopedic Walker Boot for Ankle & Foot Injuries, Male Shoe Size 7 1/2-10, Female Shoe Size 8 1/2-11 1/2, which offers great value and features at a very reasonable price point.
While we make every effort to provide updated and correct information, the advice given in this article and website should not be construed as “medical advice”. Please consult with your physician or medical practitioner before purchasing or using a walking boot. Each individual may have his or her unique issues and your medical practitioner is the best person to decide your course of treatment.
References:
[1] https://www.healthline.com/health/pinky-toe-swollen-and-painful-6-possible-causes
