Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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A CAM boot (Controlled Ankle Motion boot) is a below-knee boot that limits ankle movement and takes load off the foot and ankle while the wearer keeps walking.
This page describes the product class and what published research says about it. It is general product information, not medical advice. It is written for clinic staff, buyers and students who want a clear reference.
What is a CAM boot?
CAM stands for Controlled Ankle Motion. A systematic review in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research describes CAM boots as below-knee orthotic devices for foot and ankle injuries that restrict ankle range of motion and offload the foot and ankle while allowing the person to continue walking. A hospital emergency department guideline from Perth Children’s Hospital (WA Health) refers to the Controlled Ankle Motion (CAM) boot as a device used for suitable fractures; which injuries a boot is used for is a clinical decision.
Clinicians who prescribe or fit the boot, and clinic and supply staff who stock it, are the usual audience for this product class. For sizing by shoe size, see our walking boot size chart.
What does research show about walking in a CAM boot?
A 2024 systematic review (Stolycia, Lunn, Stanier, Walker and Wilkins, Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 17(3)) followed PRISMA 2020 and included 13 studies with 197 participants (113 male, 84 female). All were quasi-randomised within-study designs, and 12 had a control group. Several CAM boot types were tested.
- The boots restricted ankle motion, but the knee and hip showed compensatory kinetic and kinematic changes.
- Plantar pressure shifted from the forefoot to the hindfoot.
- The authors link hip and knee compensation to pain at secondary sites, such as the knee on the same side and the opposite hip.
- Few studies measured movement inside the boot, and the authors call for longitudinal studies in people with actual foot and ankle conditions.
Related products
Other supports and footwear covered in our guides include the lace-up ankle brace, the surgical shoe, and crutches.
FAQ
What does CAM stand for?
CAM stands for Controlled Ankle Motion.
Is a CAM boot the same as a walking boot?
Our walking boot size chart refers to walking boots (CAM boots). Sizing varies by product, so use the manufacturer’s size information.
What does a CAM boot do?
According to the 2024 systematic review, it restricts ankle range of motion and offloads the foot and ankle while the person keeps walking.
Sources
- Perth Children’s Hospital (WA Health), Emergency Department Guidelines: “CAM boot”, checked 30 October 2026.
- Stolycia, Lunn, Stanier, Walker, Wilkins. Biomechanical effectiveness of controlled ankle motion boots: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2024;17(3), checked 30 October 2026.
