How To Make Your Crutches More Comfortable – You may feel uncomfortable on crutches and wonder how long you will have to endure them. Carl Hartmann, an orthopedic technologist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, offers some suggestions.
“My role as an orthopedic technologist is to assist the surgeon in direct patient care, both in the clinic and in the operating room,” Carl said. He regularly works with a number of patients who require crutches.
How To Make Your Crutches More Comfortable
If you have had an injury to one of your lower limbs, it is likely that you will need crutches. These injuries commonly include:
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“We have a large patient population that doesn’t have to bear weight for a period of time,” Carl said.
There are many people who need to use crutches for anywhere from a few weeks to months. You may need to use a crutch to keep weight off the limb, or perhaps you need assistance walking.
If you have extreme difficulty walking, crutches can help. People with pain or injury in their legs or feet, weak muscles, or an unstable gait may use crutches to get around. Regaining upright movement of the body aids circulation, aids kidney and lung function, and helps prevent calcium loss from bones.
Sometimes it is necessary to relieve an injury so that it can heal properly. A crutch does two things to help with this:
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“When a patient is asked to remain unweight-bearing, they assume they can’t let their foot touch the ground,” Carl said. “We let them know that it’s okay to put their foot on the ground to help them maintain balance. Losing balance can lead to putting all the weight on their extremities.
If you use crutches, you may hear horror stories of bruised armpits or terrible falls. One of the key things to remember when purchasing crutches is to make sure they fit correctly. Here are some helpful tips:
“When your crutches are adjusted correctly, you should be able to support your weight with your hands,” he said.
When using crutches, make sure you never support yourself with your armpits, but instead use the handles for support. If you have trouble making your crutches more comfortable, you can purchase padded covers. Or you might consider an alternative such as a wheelchair, walker, or rollator.
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Above all, remember to take it one day at a time. When walking, don’t try to move too quickly and listen to your body when it may need to rest. Remember, crutches are usually a short-term treatment and you should be back on your feet in no time.
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For those trying to choose the right crutches, it is important to weigh all the possible pros and cons. It’s not just something that can be decided on a whim or the flip of a coin. The easiest thing to deal with is to find out more about the two different types of crutches: axillary crutches and elbow crutches (also called forearm crutches).
The next step, “how do I walk on crutches,” is often what most people struggle with. Don’t feel embarrassed if you find this a challenge, there are techniques you can use to help you become proficient and stable when walking with crutches!
Axillary crutches are most often used for short-term injuries and are commonly recommended for users who can only support weight with one leg. Lightweight and durable, these crutches are mostly made of aluminum designed with height-adjustable handles and legs.
By comparison, elbow or forearm crutches are recommended for long-term use for those who can bear weight with both legs but simply need additional support for their mobility.
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When choosing the right crutches, there are several factors to consider to ensure they meet your needs and provide the support you need. Here is a quick guide to help you choose the most suitable crutches to use:
To stand up, hold the crutches in one hand by gripping them by the handles. Push down with your other hand on the chair.
To sit, hold both crutches with one hand holding the handles together and reach into the chair with the other hand and slowly lower yourself into the chair.
A crutch can be useful for walking when you have a slight balance problem, some muscle weakness, an injury or pain in a leg.
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Using crutches can be extremely tiring, especially if you are new to walking with crutches. To minimize tiredness it is essential:
As you improve and your injury heals, there will come a time when you will need to stop using crutches and go back to walking without them.
Walking without crutches after using them for a long time or following an injury can be a gradual process. It is essential to proceed step by step and prioritize safety and comfort.
The injured leg always enters before the healthy/strong leg. The sequence is: crutches forward, injured leg forward, then step forward with the good leg.
What Crutches Are Best?
The choice between walking with one or two crutches depends on your specific injury, level of mobility, and guidance from your doctor. Walking with a crutch can be helpful for minor injuries or when minimal support is needed. Otherwise, walking with two crutches may be preferable for more serious injuries, post-surgery recovery, or when more balance assistance is needed.
When using a single crutch, it is typically placed on the opposite side of the injured leg. This means that if your right leg is weaker, you will use the crutch on the left side and vice versa. This gives you better support and helps you walk with more normal movements. However, you should follow the directions of your doctor or physical therapist, as they can provide specific instructions tailored to your condition and ensure proper technique when using crutches.
It is recommended to use a crutch under the arm on the side of the good/healthy leg – or in other words, on the opposite side of the bad/injured leg. This provides additional support and stability to the affected leg while walking.
The appropriate time to switch to using a crutch depends on your individual recovery process, strength, balance, and the advice of your doctor. You may consider using a crutch when these conditions are met:
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The information in this article is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. Access Rehab Equipment assumes no responsibility for the information contained or for its use. Ankle sprain? Broken foot? Other injuries or permanent disability? Crutches are a great option to help patients regain mobility. Share this guide with your patients to advise them on how to choose and use forearm or armpit crutches.
Patient Guide to Choosing and Using Crutches Types of Crutches: Choosing the Right Crutches for You Crutch Accessories How to Attach Crutches How to Walk with Crutches Sitting and Standing with Crutches Using Crutches on Stairs Other Tips for Using Crutches crutches What injuries require crutches?
Crutches can be used to support weight while recovering from a variety of short-term injuries and long-term conditions. Underarm and forearm crutches are often used for patients recovering from:
Standard axillary crutches are also called axillary crutches (“axillary” in the sense that they refer to the armpit). These crutches are typically used in the United States during recovery from leg injuries, such as a sprained ankle.
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Some people consider underarm crutches to be best for short-term users because they are easy to learn to use and readily available. As compared to
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