When you're recovering from a foot or ankle injury, a CAM (Controlled Ankle Motion) walking boot is often the go-to recommendation. But while these boots are designed to protect and support the injured leg, they may come with an unexpected cost—pain in the knees, hips, and back. And worse, many physicians have long known about these risks but failed to inform patients.
Class Action Lawsuit Shines a Light on the Hidden Risks
A recent class action lawsuit against DJO Global — the manufacturer of the popular Aircast walking boot — claims the company failed to warn patients that its thick, rockered sole can throw off body alignment, causing a ripple effect of pain throughout the body.
"Because the CAM boot has a thick, rockered sole, it raises the injured leg higher than the other leg. This results in an altered gait and uneven leg length, which can cause pain in the knees, hips, and back."
— ClassAction.org, 2024
The Medical Field Has Known This for Years
The problem isn’t new. Researchers have been publishing findings for over a decade about the biomechanical impact of CAM boots:
- A 2013 study in Gait & Posture found that walking boots significantly alter gait patterns and pelvic alignment, leading to discomfort and pain in adjacent joints.
(Watkins et al., 2013) - A report in The Foot and Ankle Online Journal noted that CAM boots can cause compensatory movement patterns that increase stress on the spine and uninjured side.
(FAOJ, 2016)
Yet despite this well-established knowledge, patients are rarely warned or given preventative options.
Patients Speak Out: “No One Told Me This Would Happen”
Stories are piling up from patients who suffered secondary pain in their back, hip, or opposite knee after wearing a boot.
One plaintiff in the class action stated he was never advised about these risks by his doctor or DJO Global, nor was he offered a shoe balancer to mitigate the leg length discrepancy.
“Had I known this could cause so much pain in my back and hips, I would have asked for an alternative or at least something to level out my legs,”
— a patient cited in the lawsuit
What Could Have Been Done Differently?
One of the most overlooked problems with traditional CAM boots is that they force patients to walk with uneven leg lengths, leading to compensatory pain. The common workaround has been to pair the boot with a shoe balancer, like the EvenUp Shoe Lift, to reduce the leg height discrepancy. But many physicians fail to prescribe or even mention these tools.
However, there's a better alternative — TayCo Brace.
Unlike bulky CAM boots, TayCo Brace offers ankle stabilization devices that fit over a patient’s existing footwear, eliminating the leg length discrepancy altogether. Because you continue wearing your own shoes, you maintain your natural gait, posture, and body alignment — drastically reducing the risk of knee, hip, or back pain caused by gait disruption.
“With TayCo Brace, patients can maintain normal biomechanics without compromising stability. It allows functional movement while preventing the musculoskeletal complications that are common with traditional walking boots.”
TayCo Brace over-the-shoe ankle brace supports are designed to provide the same level of ankle protection and support as a CAM boot but without the unintended consequences. Patients stay mobile, comfortable, and balanced — and avoid the need for clunky workarounds.
A Case for Better Patient Advocacy
The class action suit underscores a larger systemic problem in healthcare: a gap between clinical knowledge and patient education. Even if physicians are aware of risks, failure to communicate them or recommend prevention strategies puts patients at risk of new injuries and prolonged recovery.
Patients deserve full transparency, not just about their injury, but about the risks of the tools used to treat it.
Takeaway: Ask Questions, Advocate for Your Body
If you're prescribed a walking boot:
- Ask if it will alter your gait or leg length.
- Request an over-the-shoe ankle brace from TayCo Brace that allows you to keep your own shoes.
- Monitor your posture and report any secondary pain immediately.
The CAM boot may help heal your foot—but if used without consideration for body alignment, it could leave you worse off than when you started.
