OT: What Happened to Crutches

[jmc11201]

So more and more, I see people wheeling around in these things:



When did these become socially acceptable? I work in an office and what would seem to be young, healthy men are rolling around on these. If you had to transport yourself miles each day...I get it. These are better for mobility, but where is the pride of people who lead relatively sedentary lives rolling around on one of these. I'm just embarrassed for them. Is there a medical reason these are better?

 

[rutgersdave]

Crutches are terrible. On occasion, I get a gout attack and might use crutches but I was considering the above which is a lot easier to maneuver. I cut out most of my drinking and I eat a lot of salads because of the gout.

 

[spawnofsatan]

I'm all about the Crutches..

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

I bet people who use crutches have excellent penmanship

 

[RUich]

have led a pretty fortunate life and have only needed crutches once when I was in my 20's. I have to say that moving around on them took some time to get better in terms of balance, but the rolling thing seems to have taken over in many instances. A friend of ours had foot surgery and they had her on a roller (a bit different from the one shown) and she preferred it to the crutches.
Don't some people just use these as mobile devices instead of walking?

 

[RUMBA-JK]

Crutches can be awful - they occupy both hands - they can be unstable - most people do not know how to properly use them & many end up creating secondary issues
- it is a bit like a cane in that many people who should be walking with some form of assistance - decide to use a cane - but do so improperly - hand a person (who has never used one) a cane and you usually will see them try to use it on the same side as their 'bad' leg

 

[oldman87]

And the culture war continues.

 

[robcac26]

Fortunately I've only had to use crutches one time in my life and for only a week or two ten years ago. I never thought about it until then since I had never used them before, but crutches suck and are very outdated, and are difficult to rely on when the ground is icy. After the first couple days of hobbling around on crutches during the winter of my freshman year at Rutgers I remember being amazed that with all the technological advances humans have made, crutches are still the common solution to getting around with leg injuries. I can't understand why anyone would be opposed to these new rollers unless you just like to bash everything that is modern.

 

[newell138]

I believe it was around the same time it became acceptable for fat people to start driving cars around in the store. Americans have become so obese to the point where some of them cant even walk so we give them wheels to replace their useless legs.

 

[Upstream]

Crutches can be awful - they occupy both hands - they can be unstable - most people do not know how to properly use them & many end up creating secondary issues
- it is a bit like a cane in that many people who should be walking with some form of assistance - decide to use a cane - but do so improperly - hand a person (who has never used one) a cane and you usually will see them try to use it on the same side as their 'bad' leg

This. If you use a crutch improperly and put too much weight on your bad leg, you can damage your leg further or impede the healing process. With the knee scooter, there is much less risk of putting weight on you bad leg, so you will probably heal faster, without further damage.

The downside to the scooter is you can't use it to climb stairs, and it also requires more space, which is a problem in tight quarters.

 

[oldman87]

Someone forward this thread to Rettig.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Another example of higher medical costs...the manufacturers get in bed with the doctors and the doctors get a kickback for pushing another unnecessary medical device.

 

[SJU87]

I had to use one of these for a torn Achilles tendon. I was not allowed to put o=any weight on the ankle for 2-3weeks, then a boot for 6 weeks

 

[DowntownT_Brown]

I am on crutches today in NY and it is not fun. My wife who is not a Dr. but works for a hospital says one of the main reasons they are phasing out crutches is they do nerve damage in your arm/armpit. I can see it being the case for the folks who are not strong enough to support their body weight using the arms and just rest their weight on the armpit portion of the crutches.

 

[RUtuna]

Crutches can be awful - they occupy both hands - they can be unstable - most people do not know how to properly use them & many end up creating secondary issues

^ this...had hip surgery couple years ago, used the crutches incorrectly (leaned on them too much) and had insufferable shoulder pain for 2 weeks. now i have impingements in both shoulders whereas prior to that, i was totaly fine.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

I am on crutches today in NY and it is not fun. My wife who is not a Dr. but works for a hospital says one of the main reasons they are phasing out crutches is they do nerve damage in your arm/armpit. I can see it being the case for the folks who are not strong enough to support their body weight using the arms and just rest their weight on the armpit portion of the crutches.

Absolutely correct!
Crutch paralysis is a form of paralysis which can occur when either the radial nerve or part of the brachial plexus, containing various nerves that innervate sense and motor function to the arm and hand, is under constant pressure, such as by the use of a crutch. This can lead to paralysis of the muscles innervated by the compressed nerve.

 

[DJ Spanky]

The owner of the business in the office we share space with tore her Achilles tendon a year and a half ago, so had to use one of those bikes as crutches were not an option. So, yes, they have their uses.

However, having been on crutches a couple of times. I can honestly say that used properly those are much more manageable. And faster. The key here is that they are set correctly for the person's height and used properly. Even though there are cushions at the top, they are not made to lean on for long periods of time - if you have to do that, lean against a wall or sit down.

 

[mal359]

These look so much more difficult to move around in than crutches.

 

[dvb91]

Can't see that being useful for knee injuries where you really can't bend your leg or put weight on the top of the knee. For ankle & lower leg injuries, I can see those scooters being the preferred mode, but as someone noted above, how do you get up/down stairs? Still difficult with crutches, but I guess you could just sit on your ass & drag the scooter up/down the stairs (which some with crutches need to do anyway).

 

[Caliknight]

Most people aren't athletic enough to use crutches now. I saw this one poor schlep failing miserably this past weekend.

 

[RU#1fan]

I am on crutches today in NY and it is not fun. My wife who is not a Dr. but works for a hospital says one of the main reasons they are phasing out crutches is they do nerve damage in your arm/armpit. I can see it being the case for the folks who are not strong enough to support their body weight using the arms and just rest their weight on the armpit portion of the crutches.

Same here . Been on crutches for the last 7 weeks since breaking my ankle.
No real issue with using the crutches as I am athletic enough to use them. Key is to use your hands /arms to control it and not rest on your armpits . Only problem has been stairs. Won't dare use crutches on stairs ..it's on my butt and shuffle up and down. Moved to a walking boot with a cane and it's being in heaven.

 

[FanuSanu52]

So more and more, I see people wheeling around in these things:


When did these become socially acceptable? I work in an office and what would seem to be young, healthy men are rolling around on these. If you had to transport yourself miles each day...I get it. These are better for mobility, but where is the pride of people who lead relatively sedentary lives rolling around on one of these. I'm just embarrassed for them. Is there a medical reason these are better?

Are you saying there are able-bodied folks rolling around on these? Or, are you making fun of people in casts?

Either way, a bigger question mark is why you think a knee scooter is a viable way of traveling "miles each day." Off the top of my head, I could think of 500 better ways of getting around, starting with "the bike."

 

[jmc11201]

Are you saying there are able-bodied folks rolling around on these? Or, are you making fun of people in casts?

Either way, a bigger question mark is why you think a knee scooter is a viable way of traveling "miles each day." Off the top of my head, I could think of 500 better ways of getting around, starting with "the bike."

No....seeing people with foot injuries, but young and healthy otherwise. That is not old, obese, or otherwise. Just from an ego perspective i'd be inclined to crutches. Particularly with an office job where mobility isn't critical.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Well, crutches, bulging casts, oxygen tanks and other such medical devices aren't exactly what all the cool kids are wearing. They're just necessary. I figure you do what works best and don't give a sh#t how you look while doing it.

The rise of those scooters might coincide with the growing trend of personal urban mobility - Segways, electric scooters, Hoverboards, e skateboards, not to mention bicycles, e bikes, little folding bikes, etc. etc. are all the rage now, so less stigma for a knee scooter.

And what the hell do you do for work to have so many folks hobbling around :eek:?

 

[Rufaninga]

Crutches?
Those won't fit into an accord, so they had to go...

 

[mikershoein]

So more and more, I see people wheeling around in these things:



When did these become socially acceptable? I work in an office and what would seem to be young, healthy men are rolling around on these. If you had to transport yourself miles each day...I get it. These are better for mobility, but where is the pride of people who lead relatively sedentary lives rolling around on one of these. I'm just embarrassed for them. Is there a medical reason these are better?

These look kinda fem, but are 1,000 times better. I broke my tibia on ice hockey and was on one of these for 3 months

 

[RUPete]

It's just a natural evolution of medical devices/aids. Do we want to go back to whiskey and biting on a stick before surgery?

 

[RU#1fan]

These look kinda fem, but are 1,000 times better. I broke my tibia on ice hockey and was on one of these for 3 months

Mike, I suffered the same exact injury 8 weeks ago today. Broke my ankle and tib playing Ice Hockey in Skylands Arena. How long did it take before you were back on the Ice ? I hope to be playing in the Fall.
Just started PT and now in a walking boot.

 

[late knight]

Just cut the damn thing off and go with one of these:

 

[RocktheRac]

I believe i saw Shaq Doorson on one of these at the RAC.

 

[mikershoein]

Mike, I suffered the same exact injury 8 weeks ago today. Broke my ankle and tib playing Ice Hockey in Skylands Arena. How long did it take before you were back on the Ice ? I hope to be playing in the Fall.
Just started PT and now in a walking boot.

Ru#1 fan- I had a spiral fracture, luckily the doctor was able to push back into the joint manually so I avoided surgery.

I had it happen 12/16/14, and was probably back by April - so 4 to 5 months. I was religious about using the scooter so truly didn't test my foot until I got clearance.
I did a few weeks of skating drills, so probably best you go to open skate a few times to test out and try to build up your muscles, and your nerves. Good luck

 

[RU#1fan]

Ru#1 fan- I had a spiral fracture, luckily the doctor was able to push back into the joint manually so I avoided surgery.

I had it happen 12/16/14, and was probably back by April - so 4 to 5 months. I was religious about using the scooter so truly didn't test my foot until I got clearance.
I did a few weeks of skating drills, so probably best you go to open skate a few times to test out and try to build up your muscles, and your nerves. Good luck

Good to hear you are back to the Ice. I had surgery and 7 screws and a Plate put in. Surgeon said these can stay in for good . Guy on my team had a similar injury and was back on the ice in 8 months.
You are correct about the nerves needing to build up. The nerves are damaged right now in my foot and need to regenerate .

 

[jay_hq]

 

[jmc11201]

Dylan Molloy of Brown at the Tewaarton ceremony (college lacrosse equivalent of the Heisman).

http://laxlessons.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tewaaraton-e1464920371495.png

 

[mikefla]

Cost might also be a factor. Not sure how much the scooters cost but you can(and I have in the past) pick up a pr of crutches for $10 at a thrift store...some like the Salvation army even give them out free.

I think many obese people would have a huge challenge using the scooter and opt for a wheelchair....probably many wouldnt go out at all except to the MD

Ive had back trouble most of my life,,,,,and have no problem using crutches when I have had to ......then again I swim a mile 4x a week and cycle daily......

 

[mikershoein]

Cost might also be a factor. Not sure how much the scooters cost but you can(and I have in the past) pick up a pr of crutches for $10 at a thrift store...some like the Salvation army even give them out free.

I think many obese people would have a huge challenge using the scooter and opt for a wheelchair....probably many wouldnt go out at all except to the MD

Ive had back trouble most of my life,,,,,and have no problem using crutches when I have had to ......then again I swim a mile 4x a week and cycle daily......

Brand new 300 plus, some a little lower. I got one on craigslist for $100, used it for months, let someone else. Use it, then sold for $120 on craigslist. Hospital will rent for 40 per month