How to Make Crutches More Comfortable

If you google how to make crutches more comfortable you will immediately be bombarded with a host of patient complaints followed by articles showing you how to maneuver crutch pads with duct tape and towel rolls. Crafty sure but doesn’t this seem a little novel for 2023? With all of the advancements made in medicine, it’s time our medical devices caught up to the times. Assistive devices are meant to promote function and minimize discomfort, not the contrary. So what’s the solution to enhancing comfort with crutches? The answer is simple- switch to the Freedom Leg, a state-of-the-art hands-free crutch alternative that gives you the freedom you deserve while recovering from an injury.

The Downfalls of Traditional Crutches

The first commercially produced crutches were developed in 1917 by a man named Emile Schlick. When looking at the initial renderings of this device, it’s interesting to note that while adjustment capabilities have made crutches more universal, the design is still practically the same.  

Ask any crutch user what their biggest complaint is and you will likely get an answer along the lines of “they’re so limiting” or “they kill my underarms”.  Without question, the greatest downfall of crutches is they limit the use of your upper extremities. Simple tasks such as carrying a bowl of soup or pushing a child’s stroller become impossible, forcing users to rely on others to complete daily activities. As reliance on others builds, frustration often follows and safety becomes a real issue. Assistive devices are made to assist you, to facilitate you, not to hinder you.  Get a device that promotes freedom and gives you your independence back.

Side Effects of Traditional Crutches 

Contrary to any other assistive device, traditional crutches transfer body weight from the floor to the wrists and underarms. As our evolution has shown, our upper extremities are not meant for continuous weightbearing hence why we have developed into bipedal beings. Even with perfect mechanics and additional padding, tissues of the shoulders, wrists and hands often get stressed leading to secondary issues. With long-term use, irritation of these tissues can leave you with chronic axillary nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome or various forms of tendonitis.  

How Crutches Hinder Daily Mobility

Besides secondary injury, traditional crutches limit functional mobility and can even be downright dangerous. Consider for example negotiating stairs with bilateral crutches. In a non-weightbearing situation, your accuracy with the placement of the crutch caps needs to be spot on if you want to safely make it up or down the stairs. Unless you’re juggling both crutches in one arm, crutches also limit you from being able to use the stability of the stair railing.  

Consider another situation when you’re trying to get out of bed but your crutches fall over and are now nearly out of reach on the floor. Placing yourself at risk for falling or damaging your healing tissues becomes a real-life threat to an activity that should be straightforward and effortless.  

Recovery is about setting yourself up for success. This includes optimizing your living space, minimizing clutter that contributes to increased fall risk and getting devices that support your safety and functional freedom.

Devices That Don’t Go Under the Armpit

So where do we turn if traditional crutches are limiting our recovery potential?  The first step is finding a device that doesn’t restrict upper extremity use or place unneeded stress on the tissues of the arms. Knee scooters are one option but have limited applicability for knee procedures, tibial fractures and femur fractures and the iWALK similarly can only be used for certain lower leg conditions. Consider instead the Freedom Leg, a crutch alternative that uses aluminum side rails and a multi-strap suspension system to seamlessly offload the lower extremity while leaving your arms free to do everyday tasks and activities.

Benefits of the Freedom Leg

Thinking about taking the leap? The benefits of the Freedom Leg are innumerable and include: 

  • Hands-free
  • Highly adjustable
  • Lightweight
  • Quick setup 
  • Minimal learning curve 
  • Sturdy and secure
  • Appropriate for use on a variety of terrains
  • Promotes safe muscle activation in your hip and quadriceps
  • Comfortable for all sizes
  • Easy to use
Freedom Leg Brace while doing kitchen tasks

How it Works

Setup is simple and using the Freedom Leg is as easy as slide, strap and go!  With an adaptable foot plate, adjustable straps and aluminum side rails, the product uses simple yet effective medical engineering to transfer weight from the ground past the injured region to the proximal leg. Its unique design allows the applied load to be distributed more evenly within the upper thigh reducing point pressure injuries often experienced with knee scooters or crutches. Product flexibility also gives users the option to operate the device with a cast, walking boot or shoe as needed.  

Once applied, the device maintains a slight bend in the injured leg to facilitate symmetry at the hips, pelvis and lower back. Mobility during recovery has never been easier. While protecting your affected body part, it allows you to get back to everyday tasks like shopping, cooking and cleaning in a breeze.  

Are you tired of relying on bulky crutches? Sick of searching endlessly for how to make your crutches more comfortable? Your solution has arrived! Regain your independence, get moving and purchase your Freedom Leg today!

Ready to experience the most comfortable crutch?

Regain Your Freedom!

Freedom Leg 3.0
Regular price
$449.00
Sale price
$449.00
Regular price
$497.00
Unit price
per 
Sold out
6776 Townsend Rd, Unit 199, Jacksonville FL 32244

Dr. Stelmaschuk

"Family Physician, had to have both of his feet repaired and found Freedom Leg very helpful, allowing him freedom to continue particing medicine and even running his snow blower"

Brandon Wise

"Broke his ankle and had to have surgery. The surgeons put screws in his ankle and told him not to put weight on it for 90 days. He was prescibed crutches. Fortunately he discoved Freedom Leg while looking for alternatives on the internet and was able to walk again without difficulty"