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Absolutely brilliant!

I thought so as well. The mental image is just hillarious! And I clearly recall the multiple times I ended up with my face in a garment rack of some sort because the aisles were too narrow!

Depends on what kind of crutches your on. The “oh, you broke your leg” underarm crutches get you intelligent talk and sympathy because once they broke their leg.

Forearm crutches immediately lowers your IQ by at least 30 points according to the people who talk to you.

That all depends where in the world you are.

Here in the UK silver and grey forearm crutches gets the broken leg/temporary injury response. Underarm crutches would get comments about the hospital running out of ‘proper’ crutches and giving you the old ones.

To really give the impression of being a long term crutch user you need colourful ones, anything other than silver and grey really.

I was going to say the same thing Beth, being originally from the UK (distant memories).

So I have forearm crutches. It’s hopeless trying to maintain a high IQ-level image anyway with me. Ever since the advance of dystonia I look (to use a common word) “spastic” so that’s good for another -20 on the IQ scale!

Does anybody know the mechanics of which kind of crutches should be best for which kind of injuries or conditions? I’m clueless. I got forearm crutches because that’s what I see people with leg braces use. Mine are black and silver to exactly match my leg braces. Figured that would all match any clothes I choose to wear.

I have a pair of purple and black forearm crutches, though I haven’t worn them much. I dunno what that says about me.
If I ever get to seventy I shall buy a purple hat too.

I don’t think it’s so much a question of what condition you have. More how you need to use crutches. For example with under-arm crutches you could stand with support while using you hands to do something else. Whereas with forearm crutches to be weight bearing, you need your hands on them all the time.

My experience with both types of crutches is that you need a lot more upper body strength with forearm crutches than under arm crutches. Under arm provides more stability for your elbows.

I prefer the look of forearm crutches. I’ve never liked underarm ones. But then I was the one who said they’d never use a wheelchair. Look at me now, I never leave it!!

As a physiotherapist I can tell you that medical professionals will not give one kind of crutch to people with any particular condition.

Peter is right, you can use under arm crutches to balance while standing without having to hold on.

What Becs said about it taking more strength yo use forearm crutches isn’t true if the underarm ones are fitted properly. If they fit then the underarm crutches should stop a few cm below your armpit and you should NEVER put your weight on them through your armpit as it can cause auxillary nerve damage. Unfortunately far too many people use them wrongly. I think that’s why the forearm ones are no more popular in the UK – there is less chance of the patient adjusting the equipment themselves and hurting themselves then blaming the hospital.

In short it’s all a matter of opinion of what works for you and preference.

Forearm crutches are much more maneuverable around obstacles. You are forced to support your weight by the arms and/or leg(s) rather than the armpits. Took me a while to get used to them, and I’ll not go back to the underarm style again.

I have seen forearm crutches advertised for “the long term crutch user”, and I don’t think I have ever seen anybody in a cast or with a sprain using anything but underarm crutches. Forearm crutches will not damage delicate fabrics or cause bruising on the upper body.

And, yes, as a kid we always snickered at somebody who used forearm crutches, man we were such little bastards…..

Beth, I bow to your greater knowledge. I don’t know how a professional would kit people out.

I only know from my own experience two months ago that I had greater control of my stance and of my movement with under arm crutches.

My mother was on them for 10+ years, so I knew how to fit them for myself more than the people at urgent care. I was careful to keep the tops of them a few inches below my armpits.

But I do prefer the look of forearm crutches more.

Inspector Clouseau is back!

I wasn’t sure if I should put this account on the “helping” post but I added it here.

Picture the scene… the supermarket is really busy. Clouseau rolls up to the check out and puts his shopping on the conveyor belt. The celery is dripping wet so he asks for a bag for it. He pays. His wallet drops to the floor. He receives his change and drops that on the downline conveyor belt. The cashier retrieves it and kindly puts it in his purse. Clouseau picks up the purse upside down. This time the coins fall on the floor. Then he picks up the bagged celery the wrong way (can’t see which is the open end). The celery slides out onto the floor.

It was definately not my day. The worst thing was the total lack of help from the queue when, for once, I wouldn’t have minded a bit. The two teenage boys behind me just looked straight ahead and when it came to their turn, pushed me forward. I tried to stop them but my hands were so wet from the celery the chair just carried on. I did later manage to recover most of my change. And finally the cashier did ask, in a loud voice and looking sideways at the youths “Do you need help?”! I replied to her, also looking at the boys “No, I’m OK now” while they continued to look right over my head.

It’s taking me a long time to get used to wheeling and coping with things.