Shakti Mohan’s foot injury advice: Why you shouldn’t remove shoes immediately

After a foot injury, many people's immediate reaction is to remove their shoe to assess the damage. However, dancer Shakti Mohan recently advised against this practice, suggesting that one should leave the shoe on until a medical professional can examine the foot. In an interview on the Bharti TV podcast, Mohan emphasized the importance of rest and cautioned against removing footwear too soon.

"Best to rest immediately. Don t remove the shoe immediately if you have a foot injury. Otherwise, when you go to the doctor and remove the shoe, it ll blow up," she advised. Dr Vivek Mahajan, a leading orthopedic surgeon, echoed this sentiment, stating that in most cases, it is best to keep the shoes on until a doctor can evaluate the injury.

This is particularly true if there is severe pain, swelling, deformity, or a suspected fracture. However, Mahajan clarified that there is no medical basis for the notion that removing a shoe after injury will cause it to "burst." While swelling can develop rapidly after trauma, unnecessarily moving or manipulating an injured foot can exacerbate pain or injury.

In some cases, shoes can provide temporary support and limit movement of the affected foot, so removing them incorrectly might cause additional harm. Nevertheless, if the shoe is too tight and restricting circulation, it should be removed carefully. The crucial aspect, according to Mahajan, is to avoid unnecessary movement of the injured foot and to seek medical help promptly.