Instruction to walk with crutches

Crutches are a useful support tool after a patient's injury. At that time, crutches can be like new legs to help us move to do personal tasks. Moreover, when using crutches, the injured leg will be kept immobilized to avoid affecting the wound. This will limit the risk of bone damage and your leg's ability to walk while recovering.

First you need someone to support you from behind when you first practice standing on crutches. Because the body is now difficult to balance, if you practice on your own, it will be very dangerous, which can lead to slipping and affecting old wounds. More serious will be injury and more difficult to recover. Choose a position with crutches that forms a firm support for your legs the first time you practice standing. Usually will fall from the toes when the 2 legs are placed parallel. Draw an equilateral triangle with the top in the middle of the two toes and the two points at the bottom as a safe crutch position.
When using crutches, note that the distance from the armpit to the crutch position is about 5cm. With this distance, you will easily be able to put the crutches under your arm when you get used to it and don't need support. Then grasp the crutch with your hand for a firm grip. Elbows should not be straight but slightly bent to avoid injury when moving.
A more important note is that although our armpits lean on the walker, it is not the part that creates the force to help you move. The main force is transferred from the arm to the crutches to help propel and assist you to move.

Wooden crutches will be fixed with screws, so when using it, it is necessary to pay attention to check the joints to avoid causing accidents. This will be more limited with stainless steel walkers because it is quite sturdy. Your foot has just undergone the recovery process, the ability to balance the body also declines. To avoid problems such as slipping, pay attention to use shoes that have good friction with the floor.
Special care when using crutches to go uphill or climb stairs. Try to avoid entering puddles or slippery places for your own safety. Your injured leg needs to be flexed when walking because touching can cause injury. It even leads to pain and swelling affecting the training and recovery process.
The weight and force on the walker must not come from the armpit. This is a remarkable point because many subjects have been encountered and affected. Always maintain arm strength to move and control the walker effectively. Note that when turning, if you want to change direction, just hop on the hopscotch. Jump slowly until you are in the direction you want to go. Do not try to rotate your foot as it will cause you to fall and damage both the healthy leg and the injured leg.

In addition to walking with crutches, you will also need to do many other movements. These are all individual daily needs, so you need to pay attention to follow the instructions and balance with your body's ability. Do not follow the instructions and notes to avoid unexpected accidents.
3.1 Using crutches on stairs at first you will have difficulty using crutches to learn to walk up and down stairs. However, you will quickly get used to it if you learn and receive detailed instructions.
The first is that when moving up the stairs, you will find it difficult. That's because the law of gravity causes you to get higher and higher. At the same time, the body will quickly feel tired. Take your strong leg to the front step and keep your balance, then use your crutches to push forward. When you get used to it, you will find this is not difficult.
With going down the stairs seems simple but also extremely dangerous. You need to move step by step as when going up because going down the body will tend to fall. This can easily cause injury to the leg and femoral neck area. It can even cause pelvic injury if you slip and fall.
3.2 Standing up and sitting down while using elbow crutches The movement of standing up and sitting down is similar. You need to combine rhythmically to avoid losing your balance and falling. Define your goals and personal goals. So when doing standing up and sitting down, you will be more convenient. At the same time, chairs often have handles you can cling to and control your body at will, more flexibly.

The length of time a person has a leg injury on crutches is often not fixed. Much will depend on the body's ability to recover. At the same time, the medical staff directly examining will also evaluate and give the most appropriate advice on the time to use crutches to support.
To ensure your health and recovery, get regular checkups. At the same time, always pay attention to abnormal symptoms to notify medical staff when necessary.

The walking crutches can be armpit crutches or elbow crutches. However, not every patient after recovering from an injury can use it. As indicated, subjects with lower hemiplegia or after injury will be used crutches to walk. If the paralyzed patient is unconscious or unconscious, crutches are contraindicated. Because patients with cognitive disorders do not have the ability to control their behavior, it is dangerous to let them use stainless steel crutches to learn to walk after they recover.
Above are some guidelines as well as notes when using crutches for your reference. Always follow your doctor's instructions to get the best advice.
At the Rehabilitation Department of Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, there is a function of physiotherapy and rehabilitation for all inpatients and outpatients for patients in Hanoi and the region. In the North (both Vietnamese and foreigners), in the fields of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics ...
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