A knee support crutch

A typical forearm crutch

Crutches are medical tools used in the event that one's leg or legs may be injured or unable to support weight. The term, crutch, can also refer to anything used by a person as a psychological or emotional prop, or to something used as an excuse not to engage in normal life activities. Image File history File links Knee_support_crutch. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Forearmcrutch. ... medicines, see Medication. ... A modern hammer is directly descended from ancient hand tools A tool or device is a piece of equipment which typically provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task, or provides an ability that is not naturally available to the user of a tool. ... Diagram of an insect leg A leg is the part of an animals body that supports the rest of the animal above the ground and is used for locomotion. ... A spring scale measures the weight of an object In the physical sciences, weight is a measurement of the gravitational force acting on an object. ...

Medical crutches

Types

There are several different types of medical crutches:

Forearm 

These are the most common type in Europe, used in the US almost exclusively by people with permanent disabilities, though orthopaedic surgeons are now beginning to perscrib forearm crutches for patients with shorter term needs. Forearm crutches are used by slipping the arm into a cuff and holding the grip. The cuff is typically made of either plastic or metal and features a V-type opening in the front allowing the forearm to slip out in case of a fall. Forearm crutches are also sometimes referred to as Lofstrands (for their inventor, A. R. Lofstrand, Jr., who patented them in 1945),^[1] Canadian crutches (since they are commonly used in Canada), elbow crutches or even Walk Easies (Walk Easy is a brand name).

Underarm 

These are the most common type in the United States, and are used most often by people with temporary disability or injury. These are used by placing the pads under the armpits and holding the grip, which is below and parallel to the armpit pad. These are sometimes known as axillary crutches.

Strutters 

These are a variation on under-arm crutches, incorporating large soles which remains flat on the floor or ground while the user walks. They allow for an improved walking gait, and distribute body weight to reduct the risk of nerve damage caused by underarm crutches.

Platform 

These are less common and used by those with poor hand grip (due to arthritis, cerebral palsy, etc.). The arm rests on a horizontal platform and is strapped in place. The hand rests on a grip which, if properly designed, can be angled appropriately depending on the user's physical handicap.

Knee Support 

These crutches are useful for patients whose injury or disability is below the knee. They allow the knee of the injured leg to be placed on a support, whereby the injured leg now points backward behind the patient. This style of crutch affords the patient the ability to have one or both hands free to carry objects. Upper thigh atrophy is also reduced due to the fact that half the patients weight is now supported by each thigh rather than one thigh and the armpits.

World map showing the location of Europe. ... Disabilities are limitations in activity and/or functioning that are attributable to permanent medical conditions in physical, mental, emotional, and/or sensory domains and, significantly, are also due to societal responses to those limitations. ... Look up disability in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical. ... Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. ...

Information on use

Several different gait patterns are possible, and the user chooses which one to use depending on the reason the crutches are needed. For example, a person with a leg injury generally performs a "swing-to" gait: he lifts the injured leg, places both crutches in front of himself, and then swings his uninjured leg to meet the crutches. Other gaits are used when both legs are equally affected by some disability, or when the injured leg is partially weight-bearing.^[2] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Diagram of an insect leg A leg is the part of an animals body that supports the rest of the animal above the ground and is used for locomotion. ...

Crutch is also used as a verb to refer to the use of crutches to travel somewhere. For example: "I am going to crutch to the store," or "I will be crutching over to your place."

Slang Terminology

The word "crutch" can refer to an object that is a weakness, that the bearer requires in order to function (metaphorically) Example: Can religion be used as a mental crutch?^[3]

Materials

1. Wooden
2. Steel/ other metals
3. Aluminium
4. Carbon fiber
5. Titanium

References

March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is now the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

External links

• Types of crutches.
• Video of patient using the oneCrutch knee support crutch
• New cruch technologies