196:
35:
27:
1650:
1072:
123:
1660:
153:
321:
168:, or other conditions. The forearm rests on a horizontal platform and is usually strapped in place with velcro-type straps that allow the platform or trough to release in case of a fall. The hand holds an angled grip which, in addition, should allow adjustment of length from trough to grip and side-to-side sway depending on the user's disability.
66:. In 1917, Emile Schlick patented the first commercially produced crutch; the design consisted of a walking stick with an upper arm support. Later, A.R. Lofstrand Jr. developed the first crutches with a height-adjustable feature. Over time, the design of crutches has not changed much, and the classic design continues to be the most commonly used.
126:
125:
130:
129:
124:
131:
176:
These non-traditional crutches are useful for users with an injury or disability affecting one lower leg only. They function by strapping the affected leg into a support frame that simultaneously holds the lower leg clear of the ground while transferring the load from the ground to the user's knee or
82:
Axillary crutches are used by placing the pad against the ribcage beneath the armpit and holding the grip, which is below and parallel to the pad. They are usually used to provide support for patients who have temporary restriction on ambulation. With underarm crutches, sometimes a towel or some kind
113:
An uncommon type of axillary crutches is the spring-loaded crutch. The underarm pad is a curved design that is open in the front with the grips for the hands shaped for maximum comfort and to reduce the prevalence of overuse injuries. These crutches also contain a spring mechanism at the bottom. The
243:
A person with a non-weight bearing injury generally performs a "swing-to" gait: lifting the affected leg, the user places both crutches in front of himself, and then swings his uninjured leg to meet the crutches. A similar "swing-through" gait is when both legs are advanced in front of the crutches
139:
A forearm crutch (also commonly known as an elbow crutch, Canadian crutch or "Lofstrand" crutch due to a brand by this name) has a cuff at the top that goes around the forearm. It is used by inserting the arm into the cuff and holding the grip. The hinged cuff, most frequently made of plastic or
216:
Those who can tolerate partial weight bearing on both legs usually use the four point gait. The sequence is right crutch, left leg, left crutch, right leg. This is the slowest of all gaits but also the safest in that three of the four points are in contact with the ground at any given time.
128:
114:
idea behind this design is to allow the user to propel themselves further, resulting in quicker movement from place to place, though research has shown that the difference in speed is very small when comparing standard axillary crutches to spring-loaded crutches.
143:
Forearm crutches are the dominant type used in Europe, whether for short or long term use. Outside of Europe forearm crutches are more likely to be used by users with long-term disabilities, with axillary crutches more common for short-term use.
234:
The three point gait is usually used by those who cannot bear weight on one leg. Both crutches are advanced while bearing weight on the unaffected leg. Then the unaffected leg is advanced while bearing weight on the crutches.
252:
When climbing up stairs, the unaffected leg is advanced first, then the affected leg and the crutches are advanced. When descending stairs, the crutches are advanced first and then the affected leg and the unaffected leg.
225:
Those who can tolerate partial weight bearing on both legs but require less support than a four-point gait usually use the two-point gait. The sequence is right crutch with left leg and then left crutch with right leg.
127:
1239:
181:
is also reduced because the affected leg remains in use. Unlike other crutch designs these designs are unusable for pelvic, hip or thigh injuries and in some cases for knee injuries also.
1275:
269:
are possible alternatives for patients who cannot use or do not like crutches. These wheeled devices introduce an additional limitation, however, since most cannot negotiate stairs.
411:
Taylor, C. R., Lillis, C., LeMone, P., Lynn, P. (2011) Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of nursing care. Philadelphia: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, page 1042-1043.
54:
to the upper body. It is often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities.
423:
1255:
1368:
1265:
1296:
501:
Seeley, M K; Hunter, I; Bateman, T; Roggia, A; Larson, B J; Draper, DO (2011). "A Kinematic
Comparison of Spring-Loaded and Traditional Crutches".
1270:
1031:
187:
or canes serve an identical purpose to crutches, but are held only in the hand and have a limited load bearing capability because of this.
1108:
1459:
140:
metal, can be a half-circle or a full circle with a V-type opening in the front allowing the forearm to slip out in case of a fall.
569:
177:
thigh. This style of crutch has the advantage of not using the hands or arms while walking. A claimed benefit is that upper thigh
1494:
1358:
1260:
671:
208:
When using one crutch, the crutch may be placed on the side of the unaffected leg or used to bear the load of the affected leg.
1601:
956:
897:
611:
1327:
1570:
854:
1464:
1363:
1317:
859:
1663:
432:
1162:
1038:
1565:
1101:
1058:
1026:
306:
1479:
1423:
767:
1694:
1530:
1291:
1167:
1004:
989:
727:
1535:
1332:
979:
385:
1337:
1312:
1141:
1009:
366:
195:
1684:
1606:
1398:
1234:
1146:
1094:
1689:
1322:
1177:
1053:
999:
782:
722:
604:
1499:
1474:
1048:
912:
651:
466:
Segura, A; Piazza, SJ (2007). "Mechanics of
Ambulation With Standard and Spring-Loaded Crutches".
1613:
1560:
1555:
1484:
947:
20:
1596:
1489:
984:
1187:
973:
874:
573:
1520:
1504:
1469:
1403:
1075:
1043:
967:
661:
646:
597:
334:
8:
1653:
1172:
951:
1586:
1408:
1136:
937:
712:
676:
296:
1540:
1443:
1393:
1204:
884:
869:
864:
771:
641:
636:
518:
483:
428:
339:
34:
1633:
1628:
1525:
1438:
1182:
961:
902:
808:
631:
510:
475:
85:
102:
in the axilla is often damaged from the pressure of a crutch...In these cases the
1342:
823:
818:
777:
743:
326:
286:
99:
83:
of soft cover is needed to prevent or reduce armpit injury. A condition known as
556:
1591:
1199:
907:
892:
763:
479:
290:
165:
160:
These are less common and used by those with poor hand or grip strength due to
26:
1678:
1428:
1194:
681:
666:
656:
301:
184:
63:
1545:
1413:
1373:
994:
927:
922:
828:
803:
758:
522:
487:
262:
103:
47:
30:
A boy using underarm (axillary) crutches to keep weight off the injured leg
1623:
620:
514:
107:
420:
1618:
1433:
1131:
1117:
838:
798:
266:
1418:
833:
717:
427:(3rd ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: The C.V. Mosby Co. p. 324.
161:
51:
1550:
753:
707:
697:
1276:
152:
1229:
917:
813:
702:
178:
748:
95:
589:
1086:
282:
421:
Glanze, W.D.; Anderson, K.N.; Anderson, L.E., eds. (1990).
156:
Top portion of a platform crutch showing platform and grip
536:
500:
450:
424:
Mosby's
Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary
446:
444:
367:"Innovative Crutch Designs: More Gain, Much Less Pain"
1266:
Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities
414:
316:
94:
can arise from pressure on nerves in the armpit, or
441:
1676:
468:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
455:(35th ed.). London: Longman. p. 1046.
1271:Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons
1102:
605:
550:
106:is the nerve most frequently implicated; the
465:
297:Carbon or glass fiber reinforced composites
199:Small boy learns to use his crutches (1942)
1659:
1460:Augmentative and alternative communication
1109:
1095:
612:
598:
451:Warwick, R.; Williams, P.L., eds. (1973).
360:
358:
356:
354:
557:Walk Easy > Explore > Crutch Gaits
407:
405:
403:
194:
151:
121:
33:
25:
1495:Disproportionality in special education
364:
77:
1677:
351:
256:
1090:
957:Artificial intelligence in healthcare
593:
400:
74:There are several types of crutches:
383:
1602:Disability in children's literature
377:
229:
13:
1465:Emotional or behavioral disability
1032:reform debate in the United States
570:"Health Resources: Using crutches"
211:
14:
1706:
1059:(Category Health care by country)
220:
190:
1658:
1649:
1648:
1071:
1070:
386:"In Praise Of The Crutch-Makers"
319:
238:
619:
562:
503:Journal of Sport Rehabilitation
307:Carbon-fiber reinforced polymer
50:that transfers weight from the
1480:Disability and LGBT identities
1116:
768:Academic health science centre
529:
494:
459:
171:
1:
1292:Services for mental disorders
1005:Health information management
990:health information technology
728:Health information management
345:
203:
1297:Services for disabled people
980:Translational bioinformatics
559:. Retrieved on May 19, 2018.
365:Fairley, Miki (April 2008).
272:
110:suffers next in frequency."
38:A man using forearm crutches
7:
1580:Arts, media, culture, sport
1010:Consumer health informatics
384:Vyse, Stuart (8 May 2019).
312:
147:
10:
1711:
1607:Disability in horror films
1399:Activities of daily living
480:10.1016/j.apmr.2007.05.026
117:
57:
18:
1644:
1579:
1513:
1452:
1386:
1351:
1305:
1284:
1248:
1222:
1215:
1155:
1124:
1066:
1020:
1000:Public health informatics
936:
913:Electronic health records
883:
847:
791:
783:Supervised injection site
736:
723:Allied health professions
690:
627:
247:
244:rather than beside them.
1500:Sexuality and disability
1475:Disability and disasters
1387:Structural and assistive
135:A typical forearm crutch
69:
1614:Disability in the media
1485:Disability and religion
1424:Personal Care Assistant
948:Medical image computing
898:Artificial intelligence
21:Crutch (disambiguation)
1597:Disability in the arts
1490:Disability and poverty
1429:Physical accessibility
985:Translational medicine
200:
157:
136:
62:Crutches were used in
39:
31:
1188:driver rehabilitation
974:Computational biology
875:Universal precautions
198:
155:
134:
98:. Specifically, "the
37:
29:
1695:Assistive technology
1521:Models of disability
1505:Youth and disability
1470:Invisible disability
1419:Orthotics and braces
1404:Assistive technology
1216:Rights, law, support
968:Behavior informatics
515:10.1123/jsr.20.2.198
388:. Skeptical Inquirer
335:Assistive technology
78:Underarm or axillary
19:For other uses, see
1173:Learning disability
952:imaging informatics
860:Cultural competence
285:(most often steel,
257:Alternative devices
1587:Disability culture
1514:Disability studies
1409:Independent living
1137:Disability studies
938:Health informatics
713:Healthcare science
201:
158:
137:
40:
32:
1685:Medical equipment
1672:
1671:
1541:Neuroqueer theory
1444:Web accessibility
1394:Accessible toilet
1382:
1381:
1235:Disability rights
1230:Ableism/disablism
1084:
1083:
848:Skills / training
772:Teaching hospital
132:
1702:
1690:Mobility devices
1662:
1661:
1652:
1651:
1634:Special Olympics
1526:Inspiration porn
1439:Universal design
1240:Pejorative terms
1220:
1219:
1183:Physical therapy
1111:
1104:
1097:
1088:
1087:
1074:
1073:
962:Neuroinformatics
903:Connected health
614:
607:
600:
591:
590:
585:
584:
582:
580:
566:
560:
554:
548:
547:
545:
543:
533:
527:
526:
498:
492:
491:
474:(9): 1159–1163.
463:
457:
456:
448:
439:
438:
418:
412:
409:
398:
397:
395:
393:
381:
375:
374:
371:The O&P Edge
362:
329:
324:
323:
322:
287:aluminium alloys
230:Three-point gait
133:
86:crutch paralysis
1710:
1709:
1705:
1704:
1703:
1701:
1700:
1699:
1675:
1674:
1673:
1668:
1640:
1575:
1509:
1448:
1378:
1352:Activist groups
1347:
1301:
1280:
1244:
1211:
1151:
1120:
1115:
1085:
1080:
1062:
1016:
1015:
1014:
932:
879:
843:
819:Overutilization
787:
778:Pharmacy school
744:Assisted living
732:
686:
623:
618:
588:
578:
576:
568:
567:
563:
555:
551:
541:
539:
535:
534:
530:
499:
495:
464:
460:
449:
442:
435:
419:
415:
410:
401:
391:
389:
382:
378:
363:
352:
348:
327:Medicine portal
325:
320:
318:
315:
291:titanium alloys
275:
259:
250:
241:
232:
223:
214:
212:Four-point gait
206:
193:
174:
150:
122:
120:
100:brachial plexus
80:
72:
60:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1708:
1698:
1697:
1692:
1687:
1670:
1669:
1667:
1666:
1656:
1645:
1642:
1641:
1639:
1638:
1637:
1636:
1631:
1626:
1616:
1611:
1610:
1609:
1604:
1594:
1592:Disability art
1589:
1583:
1581:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1543:
1538:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1517:
1515:
1511:
1510:
1508:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1456:
1454:
1450:
1449:
1447:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1390:
1388:
1384:
1383:
1380:
1379:
1377:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1355:
1353:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1309:
1307:
1303:
1302:
1300:
1299:
1294:
1288:
1286:
1282:
1281:
1279:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1252:
1250:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1226:
1224:
1217:
1213:
1212:
1210:
1209:
1208:
1207:
1202:
1192:
1191:
1190:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1159:
1157:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1128:
1126:
1122:
1121:
1114:
1113:
1106:
1099:
1091:
1082:
1081:
1079:
1078:
1067:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1039:United Kingdom
1036:
1035:
1034:
1024:
1022:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
971:
965:
959:
954:
944:
943:
942:
940:
934:
933:
931:
930:
925:
920:
915:
910:
908:Digital health
905:
900:
895:
893:3D bioprinting
889:
887:
881:
880:
878:
877:
872:
867:
862:
857:
855:Bedside manner
851:
849:
845:
844:
842:
841:
836:
831:
826:
821:
816:
811:
806:
801:
795:
793:
789:
788:
786:
785:
780:
775:
764:Medical school
761:
756:
751:
746:
740:
738:
734:
733:
731:
730:
725:
720:
715:
710:
705:
700:
694:
692:
688:
687:
685:
684:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
654:
649:
644:
639:
634:
628:
625:
624:
617:
616:
609:
602:
594:
587:
586:
574:PinnacleHealth
561:
549:
528:
509:(2): 198–206.
493:
458:
453:Gray's Anatomy
440:
433:
413:
399:
376:
349:
347:
344:
343:
342:
337:
331:
330:
314:
311:
310:
309:
304:
299:
294:
279:
274:
271:
258:
255:
249:
246:
240:
237:
231:
228:
222:
221:Two-point gait
219:
213:
210:
205:
202:
192:
191:Types of gaits
189:
185:Walking sticks
173:
170:
166:cerebral palsy
149:
146:
119:
116:
79:
76:
71:
68:
59:
56:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1707:
1696:
1693:
1691:
1688:
1686:
1683:
1682:
1680:
1665:
1657:
1655:
1647:
1646:
1643:
1635:
1632:
1630:
1627:
1625:
1622:
1621:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1599:
1598:
1595:
1593:
1590:
1588:
1585:
1584:
1582:
1578:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1537:
1534:
1532:
1529:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1512:
1506:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1457:
1455:
1453:Social issues
1451:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1391:
1389:
1385:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1354:
1350:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1304:
1298:
1295:
1293:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1283:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1251:
1247:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1218:
1214:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1197:
1196:
1195:Special needs
1193:
1189:
1186:
1185:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1178:Mainstreaming
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1160:
1158:
1154:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1142:Medical model
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1123:
1119:
1112:
1107:
1105:
1100:
1098:
1093:
1092:
1089:
1077:
1069:
1068:
1065:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1033:
1030:
1029:
1028:
1027:United States
1025:
1023:
1019:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:in healthcare
975:
972:
970:in healthcare
969:
966:
964:in healthcare
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
949:
946:
945:
941:
939:
935:
929:
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
890:
888:
886:
882:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
852:
850:
846:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
820:
817:
815:
812:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
796:
794:
790:
784:
781:
779:
776:
773:
769:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
750:
747:
745:
742:
741:
739:
735:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
695:
693:
689:
683:
680:
678:
675:
673:
670:
668:
665:
663:
660:
658:
655:
653:
650:
648:
645:
643:
640:
638:
635:
633:
630:
629:
626:
622:
615:
610:
608:
603:
601:
596:
595:
592:
575:
571:
565:
558:
553:
538:
532:
524:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
497:
489:
485:
481:
477:
473:
469:
462:
454:
447:
445:
436:
434:0-8016-3227-7
430:
426:
425:
417:
408:
406:
404:
387:
380:
372:
368:
361:
359:
357:
355:
350:
341:
338:
336:
333:
332:
328:
317:
308:
305:
303:
302:Thermoplastic
300:
298:
295:
292:
288:
284:
280:
277:
276:
270:
268:
264:
254:
245:
239:Swing-to gait
236:
227:
218:
209:
197:
188:
186:
182:
180:
169:
167:
163:
154:
145:
141:
115:
111:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
87:
75:
67:
65:
64:ancient Egypt
55:
53:
49:
45:
36:
28:
22:
1556:Anthropology
1546:Deaf studies
1536:Crip as verb
1414:Mobility aid
1374:Reach Canada
1147:Social model
995:Telemedicine
928:Telemedicine
923:Nanomedicine
759:Nursing home
577:. Retrieved
564:
552:
540:. Retrieved
537:"iWalk-Free"
531:
506:
502:
496:
471:
467:
461:
452:
422:
416:
390:. Retrieved
379:
370:
263:knee scooter
260:
251:
242:
233:
224:
215:
207:
183:
175:
159:
142:
138:
112:
92:crutch palsy
91:
84:
81:
73:
61:
48:mobility aid
43:
41:
16:Mobility aid
1629:Paralympics
1624:Deaflympics
1434:Prosthetics
1125:Main topics
1054:New Zealand
809:End-of-life
691:Professions
621:Health care
542:8 September
392:8 September
172:Leg support
108:ulnar nerve
1679:Categories
1619:Parasports
1156:Approaches
1132:Disability
1118:Disability
1021:By country
885:Technology
824:Palliative
652:Philosophy
642:Guidelines
346:References
267:wheelchair
204:One crutch
1566:Education
1561:Geography
1205:education
1168:Inclusion
1049:Australia
870:Education
865:Diagnosis
718:Dentistry
662:Providers
637:Equipment
632:Economics
273:Materials
162:arthritis
1654:Category
1571:Journals
1551:Eugenics
1531:Bodymind
1338:Students
1285:Services
1076:Category
754:Hospital
737:Settings
708:Pharmacy
698:Medicine
647:Industry
523:21576711
488:17826462
313:See also
265:and the
148:Platform
1306:Support
918:mHealth
829:Primary
814:Hospice
804:Chronic
703:Nursing
672:Ranking
179:atrophy
118:Forearm
58:History
1223:Rights
1200:school
1044:Canada
749:Clinic
682:System
677:Reform
667:Public
657:Policy
579:30 May
521:
486:
431:
340:Walker
283:alloys
281:Metal
248:Stairs
104:radial
96:axilla
44:crutch
1664:Lists
1369:MINDS
839:Total
799:Acute
70:Types
46:is a
1343:CNIB
1328:SSDI
1323:Rail
1318:ODSP
1256:AODA
950:and
834:Self
792:Care
581:2017
544:2019
519:PMID
484:PMID
429:ISBN
394:2019
278:Wood
261:The
52:legs
1364:DPI
1359:CCD
1333:SSI
1313:DLA
1261:ADA
1249:Law
1163:IEP
511:doi
476:doi
90:or
1681::
770:,
572:.
517:.
507:20
505:.
482:.
472:88
470:.
443:^
402:^
369:.
353:^
289:,
164:,
42:A
1110:e
1103:t
1096:v
774:)
766:(
613:e
606:t
599:v
583:.
546:.
525:.
513::
490:.
478::
437:.
396:.
373:.
293:)
88:,
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_crutches.JPG)
