Crutches are medical devices designed to aid in ambulation, by transferring body weight from the legs to the torso and arms. They are mainly used to assist individuals with lower extremity injuries and/or neurological impairment. This activity describes the types of crutches, their indications, and contraindications and highlights the role of the interprofessional team in proper evaluation and training of patients needing ambulatory devices.
Objectives:
Describe the indications for crutches.
Review the contraindications of crutches.
Summarize the types of crutches available.
Explain the importance of improving care coordination among interprofessional team members to improve outcomes for patients needing an ambulatory device