Regardless what your personal reason to use crutches is – an injury, a long-lasting recovery or a diagnosis with an indeterminate recommendation for such a therapy – this whole thing might become a truly daunting and exhausting task. Moreover – it doesn’t even matter how long you will keep being supported by crutches – as in call cases you will meet lots of obstacles that might at first discourage you.
Yet, you shouldn’t give up by all means. Whether it is important for your faster recovery or for your new lifestyle accepted with peace and harmony, if being prescribed to use crutches, you should keep going.
However, we shouldn’t forget about all those difficult stages you might go through till you get used to the crutches. Keep in mind that such a therapy requires coordination and balance, plus – you need to have your muscles in top health.
Speaking of which, the truth is that no doctor would require from a patient to be a sportsman or a gym maniac to be capable to use your crutches. As a matter of fact, your muscles will eventually strengthen due to the new body zones the entire pressure is going to be handled by.
The longer you use the crutches, though, the more these specific body muscles will be overtaxed. Eventually, some muscles might start bothering you as a result of using the crutches.
On the other side, the wrong approach to using your crutches is the top reason the soreness in muscles appears and increases. This is why every crutches user should be aware of the very right technique for moving along with them.
In this material we are going to review all of these topics in details – the specific body muscles that are overtaxed and at risk when using crutches, as well as the right way to use the crutches. All of this information is presented with the only purpose to teach you how to cope with sore muscles as a result of using crutches.
The muscles that undertake the pressure when using crutches
Basically, there are two groups of muscles that are overburdened when using crutches – abdominal and arm muscles. Here is more information about them.
1. All muscles in your arms are basically the most “injured” body parts when the crutches are not using the correct way. It is because arms are those that “wear” the crutches by providing the entire support of the body.
2. Usually, the abdominal muscle pain occurs when using axillary crutches. In this case the weight bulk is supported by the arms and shoulders, but your abdominal muscles are also engaged. They simply keep your trunk upright and your torso stabilized. In many cases, the abdominal muscles are overburdened making steps forward.
The top recommendations for muscle pain avoiding when using crutches
Now, when you realize why you feel that sore pain when using crutches, you might get even more discouraged. However, this isn’t our goal in this material.
The good news for you is that if you start using your crutches correctly you will deal or even avoid the entire pain. Below, we are going to offer you a full range of tips, tricks, expert advices, medical recommendations and suggestions to overcome the problem of sore muscles as a result of using crutches.
1. Keep the underarms off the pads of your crutches
We mean that you should make sure that any of the pads are away of a contact with your underarms when moving. To be more specific, there must be nearly 2 inches distance between the pad and the armpit when you are supported by your shoulders.
In addition to that, you shouldn’t slump down on the pads when you are standing without moving. It is because the armpits are incapable to undertake the entire body weight.
2. Have a balanced contact with the pads
When the torso and the inner arm stabilize the crutches from above, a friction can appear with some painful subsequence. To avoid it, tight your arm and torso squeeze on the crutches. Transfer the tips of the crutches to the feet in a way to be comfortable when making steps.
Speaking of irritation, which is also a bad symptom when using crutches the wrong way (although, it’s not a muscle, but a dermatologic problem), use gel pads with glycerine. They go over the top side of the crutches to eliminate the friction.
3. Let the different parts of the body rest one after another
We mean that many users develop the worst habit to use only a certain group of muscles when being on the crutches. In almost all cases, it’s the group of the arm muscles. However, even if you overburden only your neck, a pain will eventually come.
The key is to use your body in a perfect balance. Change the pressure position to accomplish it.
4. Consider upgrading your crutches in the best way specially for your needs
There are many alternatives for this purpose. For instance, many users get additional cushions for the crutches or by some if their crutch models come with no cushions at all.
Other patients prefer to use pockets that are attached to the crutches in order to improve the person’s balance. When you are balanced, you get more stabled or you are getting close to the mission “using the entire body when being on crutches”.
There are also crutch tips which are basically made for wet surfaces to avoid slipping. However, these accessories are also helpful to absorb the shock of the arms experienced during the first assignment to undertake the entire body weight.
5. There’s a possibility for your crutches not to be the right ones for you
As the market is so flooded with hundreds of brands, dozens of models and single modifications for crutches in general that appear almost on a daily basis, choosing the right crutches might become a tough task to face.
In case you have already bought a pair of crutches and it’s convenient for you, get over the loss of your money and simply replace it with a new one. The pain you will feel even worse soon cannot compare to the money you can save for being patient and robust.
6. Sometimes, the problem isn’t even in the wrong crutches, but in the wrong shoes
By all means, the comfortable shoes are a must when using crutches. You should go for as sensible as possible shoes. By the way, the wrong pair of shoes might damage your healthy leg in case your injury is only in one of the legs.
7. Use the specific model of crutches the right consumer way
If you have an adjustment option for height, use it. If the crutches come with extra accessories for more comfort, use them, too. There’s a reason for the manufacturer to include them in the set of the crutches.
If you don’t, your stride and posture will be affected, which can cause you to trip. And if you don’t want to use the additional accessories, why the heck did you get such an expensive pair of crutches with so many extras included?
8. Careful with the stairs
The first time you should climb or go down the stairs with the crutches, is, no doubt, a scary thing. But if you learn the right technique for this task, you will neither face the fear again nor feel any muscle pain.
Our tip for you here is to stand as close to the step as possible when you go up the starts. Always put the crutches on the ground level and pick the damaged leg with your entire body weight after which you should bring the crutches up to the step level.
If you go down the stairs, hold the foot of the damaged leg up in front and hop down each step on the other leg. Have the crutches supported you at a full value.
9. Don’t hesitate to ask for help
Instead of overburdening yourself and put a start of a pain on any group of the body muscles, rely on the surrounding people in the toughest situations. In addition to this, use the driver’s door when you are in a public means of transportation.
Getting to the groceries might not be the best idea for your first walk with crutches. Consider online shopping during the first weeks till you get used to the crutches.
10. Never stop strengthening your body
Physical exercises are beneficial for both: healthy people and those with any types of injury, including one that requires using crutches. And just because you have a kind of disability right now, it doesn’t mean sports active life should be forever gone of your life. On the contrary…
Exercises will reduce the time for the recovery. And till this very special day of getting rid of the crutches come exercises will keep your body strong enough not to get another injury or pain (like the muscle sore pain we are talking about in this material).
Never underestimate the new pain in your body, including sore muscles, when using crutches. If you cannot handle it via our specially tailored tips and recommendations, turn to a medical expert for a more drastic solution as soon as possible.
