Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Shakti Mohan’s Foot Injury Advice Challenged by Orthopedic Expert
Shakti Mohan said people should not quickly remove a shoe after hurting their foot.
She suggested resting and leaving the shoe on until seeing a doctor.
A medical expert agreed that keeping a comfortable shoe on can sometimes limit movement.
However, he said a foot will not burst when the shoe is removed.
Injured feet can swell quickly after an accident.
Moving or handling the foot roughly may increase pain or worsen an injury.
People should stop walking, rest, raise the foot, and use wrapped ice for short periods.
Serious symptoms should be checked by a doctor quickly.
Shakti Mohan advised leaving footwear on after a foot injury until a doctor examines it.
Orthopedic expert Dr Vivek Mahajan said a foot will not “burst” when a shoe is removed.
Rapid swelling can occur after trauma, and rough handling may worsen pain or injury.
Immediate care includes rest, avoiding weight, elevation, wrapped ice, and covering open wounds.
Urgent medical attention is needed for severe pain, deformity, numbness, circulation changes, or suspected fractures.
- Who
- Dancer Shakti Mohan and Dr Vivek Mahajan, Chief of Joint Replacement and head of orthopaedics at ISIC Multispeciality Hospital.
- What
- Advice about whether to remove footwear immediately after a foot injury, along with first-aid guidance.
- When
- The advice was discussed on a Bharti TV podcast; the article addresses care immediately after an injury.
- Where
- On the Bharti TV podcast on YouTube; the medical advice concerns an injured foot.
- Why
- To reduce unnecessary movement and pain while allowing a medical professional to assess possible swelling, fractures, or soft-tissue injuries.
Mohan’s caution
Medical explanation
Whether to remove the shoe
Mohan’s caution
Shakti Mohan advised leaving footwear on after a foot injury until reaching a doctor, warning that removing it could cause the foot to swell dramatically.
Medical explanation
Dr Vivek Mahajan said keeping a shoe on may sometimes provide support, but there is no medical truth that the foot will burst when it is removed.
Risk after shoe removal
Mohan’s caution
Mohan’s comments present immediate shoe removal as potentially dangerous because the foot may swell.
Medical explanation
Mahajan said the actual concern is rapid swelling after trauma and the possibility that rough removal or repeated movement could increase pain or aggravate a fracture or soft-tissue injury.
What matters most
Mohan’s caution
Mohan emphasized keeping the footwear intact and seeking a doctor’s assessment.
Medical explanation
Mahajan emphasized minimizing movement, avoiding weight on the foot, controlling swelling, and obtaining prompt medical help, while removing footwear carefully if it threatens circulation.
- Mohan’s advice
- Rest immediately, avoid moving around, and keep the shoe intact until medical examination.
- Medical clarification
- There is no medical basis for the claim that a foot will “burst” after shoe removal.
- When footwear may help
- A comfortably fitting shoe can temporarily support the foot and limit movement.
- Important exception
- A shoe should be removed carefully if it is extremely tight, affects circulation, or causes severe discomfort.
- Immediate care
- Stop walking, rest, elevate the foot, and apply a cloth-wrapped ice pack for 15–20 minutes at a time.
- Avoid
- Do not walk off the injury, massage it immediately, apply heat during the first 24–48 hours, or straighten a deformed foot.
- Urgent warning signs
- Severe pain, major swelling, inability to bear weight, deformity, numbness, open wounds, unusual colour or coldness, and suspected fractures require prompt medical attention.