Moon Boots & Braces in Canberra
What are moon boots and braces? A podiatrist calls a moon boot a CAM walker, a C=controlled A=ankle W=walker. A CAM walker looks like an astronaut’s shoe so it got its nickname, moon boot, which we actually like that term, so let’s keep using it. At New Step Podiatry we stock a range of braces, just not the dental ones. On top of toenail bracing for ingrown toenails we also have a range of ankle, foot and toe braces.
Why choose a podiatrist to fit a moon boot?
If you have been told to wear a moon boot, our podiatrists are here to make the transition in and out of the moon boot as quick, safe, and seamless as possible. Here are 7 reasons to attend a podiatrist for a moon boot fitting consultation:
We check the moon foot fit and your gait/walking pattern. We provide the option of trying an even up brace for the opposite shoe to level out our hips and knees. Us podiatrists cringe when we see people walking around the shops with a highly asymmetrical, awkward moon boot walk. Knees, hip and lower backs do not appreciate this walking pattern and an Even Up device can help to decrease the risk of pain and injuries higher up.
At New Step Podiatry we have both low and high moon boots. A high ankle moon boot is heavier than a low ankle moon boot so you don’t want to be walking around with a high moon boot unless your injury requires it. Our podiatrists will assess what your particular injury requires.
If another health professional has advised you to wear a moon boot, bring along the diagnosis i.e. imaging results or health professional letter. Some conditions are sometimes treated with moon boots and other times are not. They may require other offloading instead, for example, in shoe padding or a brace. Our podiatrists take the time to trial different offloading during your appointment and whichever gives you the best pain relief straight away is possibly the most comfortable and effective option for healing. Plus, we don’t want to give out moon boots unnecessarily and we bet you agree!
Foot and ankle joints can get stiff during moon boot wear. That saying, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ applies to your pre moon boot joint mobility. Your podiatrist will provide exercises to maintain as much mobility as possible, you’ll appreciate this when the moon boot comes off and the rehabilitation process is easier. These exercises may also decrease your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Your podiatrist will run through the application and removal of the moon boot plus care instructions. Donning = applying. Doffing = removal.
Where applicable, we will measure your range of motion and muscle strength on both sides to gain baseline data to reference back to during rehabilitation.
We will look after you, answer any questions while you are wearing your moon boot and make a follow up consultation to provide rehabilitation. We work with you to achieve your rehab or return to daily activity or sport goals. Rehab will prevent future reinjuries and new injuries. We have seen our fair share of patients with heel pain in the weeks or months after they stop wearing a moon boot. Usually these people weren’t prescribed any rehab. Rehab post moon boot is important for certain lower limb structures that don’t tolerate change well (we are looking at your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia).
We will look after you, answer any questions while you are wearing your moon boot and make a follow up consultation to provide rehabilitation.
Moon boots may be prescribed for the following conditions:
Non-displaced fractures i.e. broken bones of the foot, ankle or leg
Bone stress fractures and reactions
Severe ankle sprains
Plantar fascia tears
Post-surgery offloading
Tendon tears and ruptures e.g. Achilles
Diabetic wounds
Chronic, debilitating foot or ankle pain e.g. plantar heel pain/ plantar fasciitis that isn’t responding to conservative care
It depends on your injury plus other factors related to your health. 6 weeks is a common time frame but it really depends on the injury!
Furthermore, after a period of moon boot wear we may transition you to part time wear e.g. you wear it only during school hours or at work a couple of weeks. Our podiatrist will be reviewing what is best for YOU. We are determining how much we need to offload to allow healing, how high is the risk of injury reoccurrence is and how much outside of moon boot time would be beneficial for joint, tendon, muscle and blood flow health.
Please check with your private health insurance if you have rebate options for a moon boot fitting consultation ( codes are 004 or 014) and a moon boot/CAM walker (codes is 312). Medicare doesn’t provide rebates for moon boots.
As mentioned above we have even up devices to level out your hips/pelvic height to make walking with a moon boot easier. Other braces and the conditions our podiatrists commonly use them for include:
Ankle braces: for recent/acute sprains and for preventing ankle sprains during sports.
Trilok brace: plantar fascia pain (tears, fasciitis, fasciopathy, fasciocis), ankle injuries and lower limb tendon conditions (tendonitis, tendinopathy, tendinosis) such as Achilles and peroneal tendons.
Solushin: medial tibial stress syndrome aka shin splints
Toe fix: plantar plate dysfunction, flexible hammer toe and claw toe
Mid foot wraps and specialised compression socks: midfoot osteoarthritis, transmetatarsal ligament injuries, plantar fascia injuries.