Saturday, 28 May 2011

What The Crutches Are All About

By Clare Westwood


Nobody prays for accidents but it sometimes occurs even when no preparations or special planning is made for it. Most times, when they occur, they have the capability of rendering the bones nonfunctional such that mobility is endangered. This means that one may not be able to go from place to place again. Well, that was in the past, before the 1900s, when the crutches had not been in place.

This equipment has a very interesting history. They were first used in Egypt among the pharaohs. However, the kind used by the pharaohs was quite different from what is obtainable nowadays. The design of the modern day crutch started in about 1917 when Emile Schlick made the first commercial design. His work was followed up by A. R Lofstrand Jr. Who made the first design for adjustable crutches.

The design was further developed to suit several problems that could arise from bone injuries. Among the different kinds are those for the underarm, knee and forearm. The most frequently used supports are those made for the underarm and they are produced for victims with minor injuries.

When you visit the market to buy the crutch, you should know the exact design you want. You can get those made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer, steel and thermoplastic. Each of these have their own peculiar advantages and they also have a common characteristic of being light-weight, thereby making it less stressful for the users.

If you have sustained an injury or you have a neighbor or relation who is suffering from bone fracture or joint dislocation, you will have to consider a few basic points before getting the equipment. One of them is the ability to determine what you actually need with respect to the kind of injury you have sustained.

New crutches can last long and give the actual benefits much better than old and used ones. The doctors can also be helpful in deciding good crutches for your injuries. In this case, he may be very particular about the producer you should buy from.




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