Comfort & Performance: Mobility Devices For A Broken Foot

Healing from a broken foot can be painful and can make moving around and undertaking daily activities much more difficult. Here, we explore the best mobility devices for a broken foot that prioritise comfort and performance to promote a smooth recovery.

Benefits of Mobility Devices for a Broken Foot

To heal fully from a broken foot and prevent any further injury to it, it is crucial that you keep weight off of it.  A mobility device is beneficial throughout the healing process as they reduce strain on the injured foot whilst enabling you to comfortably perform your day-to-day tasks, enhancing your safety and independence.

Best Mobility Device Options for a Broken Foot

So what mobility devices for a broken foot are available? There are a few different options which are most popular and commonly recommended by healthcare professionals and occupational therapists.

Crutches

Crutches offer the most cost-effective solution for walking around whilst non-weight-bearing on your foot. They are small which also make them ideal for use in smaller spaces such as bathrooms and going up and down stairs. Being light also makes them easily portable when you’re travelling. 

However they do require upper body strength and good balancing skills to operate them otherwise you could be at risk of falling and further injuring yourself. Crutches themselves are also less stable than other mobility devices such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters and knee scooters making them harder to use whilst out on slippery or uneven surfaces.

Wheelchairs

A wheelchair is often the most comfortable choice for most people as they require less physical strength to use and enable you to remain seated whilst manoeuvring around, ensuring your foot has no strain on it. They also offer a convenient solution for carrying objects on your lap as they are highly stable. 

But their size and design means they are not as suitable for smaller spaces and can be more difficult to transport and store. It also goes without saying that they cannot be used on stairs which means you need to find another way or use crutches anyway for this.

Knee Scooters

In recent years, knee scooters have become a popular mobility aid when recovering from a broken or injured foot and leg.  They provide good stability when manoeuvring around but with more flexibility than a wheelchair. As they support standing on your uninjured leg, it means it remains exercised and strong, but also enables you to carry out tasks at your standing height rather than seated. 

Again, much like a wheelchair, they cannot be used on stairs and still require more space to store and transport than crutches. 

Mobility Scooters

A mobility scooter is a more expensive option but is particularly best for when venturing out of the house as it provides a comfortable and stable mode of transport. Because it is battery powered, it means you can cover longer distances and on tougher terrain than crutches and knee scooters.  Check out our guide for using a mobility scooter for further tips and considerations. 

The size and design again means it’s not particularly ideal for use in smaller spaces or obviously on stairs either. 

Choosing the Right Device for Your Needs

The best mobility device for your individual needs will depend on the amount of time you need to be non-weight-bearing, your budget, your lifestyle, your home space and any additional mobility requirements you have. It may be that you need a combination of multiple mobility devices, perhaps one that will be best used in your home and then another device for when you’re venturing out. Or you need to choose a solution that will provide additional physical support for prolonged use.

Additional Tips for Managing Mobility with a Broken Foot

It goes without saying but of course it is extremely important that you follow the medical advice given to you by your healthcare professional for a safe and full recovery. 

To further support this and increase your mobility during your healing process, it’s recommended to start gentle exercises to maintain and increase joint mobility. An Occupational Therapist can provide a tailored exercise plan for your recovery.

Mobility in Motion Recommendations

If you want to remain as independent and active as possible, then retaining access to a car is imperative. At Mobility in Motion we offer a variety of vehicle adaptations that can support you within your recovery.

Transfer Plate

A car transfer plate is a helpful adaptation for managing safe transitions in and out of a vehicle by providing a stable platform on which to pause and pivot from, reducing the requirement to put weight on your foot.

Person Hoist

If you have additional mobility requirements whilst also recovering from a broken foot, then a person hoist offers an ideal solution for seated transfers into a car.

Boot Hoist

To aid with lifting and loading a wheelchair or mobility scooter into a car, a boot hoist can be fitted into the boot of a car and is operated by a remote control.

Overall, mobility devices for a broken foot can be utilised to enhance your mobility and comfort throughout the healing process. For further advice on how our vehicle adaptations could help you get in touch with us online or call us on 0800 288 4422. 

Tips for Helping Elderly In and Out of Car – offers guidance that may benefit those with a broken foot needing assistance.