Along with orthopedic casts, leg braces, splints and orthotics, they can immobilize and shift weight bearing to help treat injuries to the foot area.

[4] A walking boot consists of: CAM walkers may range in height from mid-calf to nearly knee-length, depending on the condition they are meant to treat.

For further protection of the injured ankle and leg, CAM walkers may also utilize a more extensive plastic shell that also encloses the back and sides of the walker, with detachable plastic plates for the front.

[5] While CAM walkers do not provide the same degree of immobility that an orthopedic cast offers, they have some advantages.

[6] Unlike casts, they are adjustable and reusable, and fully removable, permitting the patient to bathe the foot and ankle and remove the walker at night, if they so desire;[7] and a CAM walker requires no special modifications for the patient to bear weight and walk.