How to walk with crutches non weight bearing?

Are you wondering how to walk with crutches non-weight bearing? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about walking with crutches when you are unable to put any weight on one or both of your legs.

What Does Non-Weight Bearing Mean?

Before we dive into the details, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. When a doctor or physical therapist says that a patient is “non-weight bearing,” they mean that the patient cannot put any weight at all on one or both of their legs. This is typically due to an injury, surgery, or other condition that requires the affected limb(s) to be immobilized and protected from stress and strain.

Being non-weight bearing can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to limit your mobility entirely – enter crutches!

Types of Crutches

There are several types of crutches available, each with its own set of pros and cons. Here are some common options:

Underarm Crutches

These traditional crutches feature pads that rest against your armpits while handles allow for grip adjustments. While underarm cructhes may seem like a popular option because they’re widely recognized across TV shows & movies as ice breaker jokes in romantic comedies but if used improperly they can cause pain in arms/hands/shoulders over time which makes them not so funny afterall.

Forearm (or Elbow-Type) Cruthes

Forearm (or elbow-type) cruthes use cuffs instead of pads making them less painful in longer durations but can add greater stability issues because forearm tends get fatigued quickly than upper arm muscles.

Platform (or Loftstrand-style) Cruthces

Platform style comes equipped with large platforms designed for sitting while either hurt leg rests up rather then swinging above ground. These can be tricky to navigate in non flat surfaces.

Knee Scooter

As the name suggests, these devices enable patients to kneel and place their injured foot on a platform with wheels, allowing them to move around much more easily than crutches or wheelchairs.

Choosing the Right Crutches

Choosing the right type of crutch for you depends on your injury/condition—your doctor will likely have specific recommendations based on your medical history as well as location/flooring of living environment. Here are some general factors you should bear in mind:

  • Height: make sure the crutches adjust properly so that handles come at comfortable height range for users (adjusting armpit pads if using underarm style).
  • Weight capacity: this is important especially when adding purse/backpack storage onto handlebars or relying heavily upon the ability of elbow flexion.
  • Ease of use/assembly: Some models suit less agility making it easy get going out-of-box while some require perhaps additional assembly/some liquid encouragement before tightening screws.

Once you’ve chosen your preferred set-up follow along with our next steps.

Adjust Your Crutches Correctly

For proper walking posture alignment there are certain adjustments required before starting off:
1. Arm positioning: While holding onto uprights ensure elbows are bent slightly above 30-degree angle; too much bending causes sling like feeling restricting blood circulation tendency resulting numbness effects later after walking session completed.
2. Cuff Positioning(Present in Forearm/Ebony-style): These cuffs should be placed about an inch and half from base of forearm ensuring fingers still able lay comfortably flat upon handlebar grips without exertions against cuff unit which would cause painful chafing & rubbing/numbness over time.
3. Crutch Height: Place cruthes against side body looking forward standing up straight similar chair position then measure to height of hip bend (when knees bent will be similar as well). Adjust crutch from there to maybe about two inches under arm pit with forearm/elbow type or for loft-stand style adjust the underarm cushion accordingly.

Use Your Crutches Correctly

  1. Start by placing both crutches about a foot apart and angled slightly outwards in front of your unaffected leg, while your affected limb is extended forward just off ground.
  2. Squeeze the grips tightly then move the untouched leg first allowing body weight/pressure shifted over onto arms/hands before lifting injured leg so that it’s suspended & hangs midair spread behind body-keeping knee straight at all times. Place hand grip flat onto ground area that you’re walking on , and repeat alternating feet/crutches side-to-side movement until motion becomes comfortable enough start forwards steps using natural gate pace momentum upon torso.
  3. Ensure to use an even amount force when pushing down on each crutch this helps keep posture pinched together reducing excess swinging or tipping qualities which has potential damage risk factors when trying maintain stabilization.

Tips:

- When going up stairs lead with good foot but coming down stairs have bad ankle follow closely after
- Keep household clear off any pet toys/electrical cords to avoid accidents since reduced capability balance

Crutches can represent significant learning curve, but with proper instruction they can help critical role regaining mobility confidence back again post-op/injury where lower extremities take time recover fully!

So don’t let non-weight bearing status hold you back! With these tips & tricks you’ll be strolling around like a pro in no time!

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