When it comes to using crutches, you may think that the world is looking up. After all, you’ve just busted your ankle or went through a major foot surgery – and with the size of the cast that was strapped on your foot, you practically thought that you would be resigned to using a wheelchair for the next couple of months.
That’s why when your doctor walked in to the waiting room dangling a pair of crutches from his hand, you practically leapt up for joy – but quickly remembered that you were suffering from a very painful foot injury.
But before you wedge those crutches under your armpit and walk out the door of your doctor’s office, it’s worth exploring the downside of using crutches. Now, we’re not trying to be negative Nancies here…we just want to make sure you have all the information you need so you make the right mobility choice for you.
So what exactly are the downsides of using crutches?
Crutches can be really unstable. Think about it – you have to balance your entire body weight on two crutches that practically resemble sticks. This is why crutches often lead to people losing their balance, which can put your injured foot at serious risk.
Crutches can be very uncomfortable, especially if you don’t have a significant amount of upper body strength. Because you’re supporting your entire weight via your armpits, this means that you may be very sore as you get used to the crutches.
Crutches can make it difficult for you to free up your arms and hands to do, well, pretty much anything. When you’re busy balancing your entire body weight with your arms and hands, this means that even opening doors can be extremely difficult for you to do.
Now that you’ve discovered the downside of crutches, you may want to look into different mobility options by clicking here. You may find that crutches are actually not the best option for your mobility needs.