Broken ankle... what length should my crutches be?!
Question: Broken ankle!.!.!. what length should my crutches be!?
I broke my ankle now i have to walk with crutches!. the crutches length can be adjusted!. i am 4 ft 11 inches short!. the crutches start from 4'6" to 5'2"!. should i adjust them to my height of 4'11" or am i suppose to adjust them shorter than my height or taller than my height!. when they were given to me at the doctor office they set it to 5'2" and it is so uncomfortable!. i have never been on crutches before but i am sure they are not going to be comfortable at any length!. But i have tripped and fell twice on the length that they set it at so what is the safest length i should set it!. any help in this matter will be greatly appreciated!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
after spending the last 20 months on them I can tell you the underarm part should be 2 inches bellow your arm pit!. The hand grips should come to your wrist when you are standing straight with the crutches upright next to you!. Do not ever rest your armpit on the crutches!. You can very easily damage the sensitive tissues in your armpit especially the nerves!. This damage could be permanent so do not do it!. If you are older then 50 talk to a physical therapist!. Even just walking in a place someone should be happy to help you make sure they are adjusted properly!. Be very careful with them!. I used knee pads to climb steep stairs!. Going down I just bumped down on my butt!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
4'11" or 5 foot!. you dont want them at the wrong height or you can and will hurt your armpits!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Set them at a length that feels the most comfortable to you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com