We Answer Your Top Questions About Podiatry and Physical Therapy

Walking boots or walking casts are used to treat and accommodate many different types of injuries, from small to serious. Because they are lighter than traditional casts and allow you to continue partially using your limb as you heal, they are an increasingly popular option. Typically, small foot fractures or even shin fractures require these boots. A foot that needs to be immobilized after surgery may be kept still in this type of brace, too. Severe sprains, Achilles tendon injuries, and torn muscles are all often treated with this style of cast.

However, whether or not you require a traditional hard cast or a walking boot for your injury depends on your unique needs and individual discomfort. A full examination and diagnosis by experts like our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. can determine what you need to best treat your injury. If you’re concerned about foot pain or wonder if your injury needs a walking cast, contact our Cherry Creek, Castle Pines, or Parker, CO, offices right away. You can reach us by calling (303) 805-5156 or through our online request forms.

 

Both heat and ice are used to treat injuries, but at different stages—and they aren’t necessarily interchangeable. Ice is used to combat swelling and inflammation in a fresh or relatively recent injury, particularly if soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments are involved. Heat is best for chronic injuries that have been painful for a while, like a persistently strained muscle or joints with arthritis.

The ice in a cold treatment contracts all the tissues around the injury, temporarily limiting how much fluid leaks into those tissue and discouraging inflammation. Swelling and inflammation get in the way of healing, so limiting them shortly after you hurt yourself can be helpful. However, chronically painful injuries are different. A heat treatment helps muscles and other soft tissues relax, as well as encourage a healthy blood flow in the area, which brings healing.

If you’re struggling with foot pain and you’re not sure how to best care for it, don’t hesitate to get more help. Early treatment is best for your recovery. Just call our experts at Podiatry Associates, P.C. in Castle Pines, Parker, and Cherry Creek, CO, at (303) 805-5156 for an appointment today.

Recovering from a broken ankle can take quite a while. Typically the break itself can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks or so to heal. Recovering your full strength and range of motion through rehabilitation can take even longer, however. Your specific healing timeline will really depend on the severity of the break and what your joint needs to make sure the bones knit together correctly. A small, simple crack through an ankle bone that you have immediately immobilized will heal faster than a break that goes through multiple bones or isn’t aligned properly. Some breaks need surgery, too, which can extend healing time even longer.

The key is to get x-rays and begin treatment as soon as possible. Your foot will need to be immobilized in a cast, and most likely you’ll be on crutches for a little while to keep weight off the vulnerable joint. You’ll need rehabilitation to rebuild strength and stability in the muscles around you joint so your ankle can support you again. Our team at Podiatry Associates, P.C. can help you with every step along the way. Make an appointment online, or call our offices in Castle Pines, Parker, and Cherry Creek at (303) 805-5156.