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Contents
Crutches: Sometimes Necessary, but Crutches Can Cause Back Pain
Sometimes crutches are necessary following an injury or surgery. Typical uses follow a leg or knee injury. But if you use crutches incorrectly, it may result in back pain. So it’s important to know how to use crutches. Plus, what can you do to allievate back pain if you have it. So, in this article, we’ll talk about the following topics:
- What muscles are used with crutches?
- How do you relieve crutches pain?
- Can crutches hurt you?
- Do crutches give you muscles?
- Instructions for using crutches
What Muscles Are Used with Crutches?
What muscles are used with crutches? When you’re using crutches, you’re primarily relying on your arms and upper body to support your weight. This can be a lot of work for your muscles, so it’s important to be aware of how to use them correctly.
How Do You Relieve Crutches Pain?
If you’re using crutches incorrectly, you may experience pain in your back, shoulders, or arms. Here are a few tips for relieving crutches pain:
- Make sure that you’re using the correct muscles when you walk with crutches. You should be relying on your back and shoulder muscles, not your leg muscles. This especially so if you are recovering from a knee injury or surgery
- When you’re using crutches, try to keep your stride short and steady. Don’t take large steps, as this will put a lot of strain on your muscles
- Take regular breaks when using crutches. When you’re not walking, stand with your good foot in front of the other and rest your crutches on the ground or floor.
- Of course some of the standard pain relievers such as NSAIDs, Tylenol, or natural anti inflammatory remedies like Turmeric are useful to relieve many kinds of aches and pains. Turmeric, however, is the only one that you can take over a long period of time without possible harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals.
Can Crutches Hurt You?
Before we get into the ins and outs of how to use crutches, it’s important to know what they are. Basically, crutches are a device that you hold onto with your hands as you support your weight with your injured leg. They are usually made of metal or wood, with a T-bar that goes between your forearms. You can adjust the height of the crutches so that they’re even with your armpits. There are various types of crutches, including ones that you can fold up and put in your car or purse.
The simple fact is, that if you use crutches improperly or for long periods of time, they can cause pain in other parts of your body, especially your back or shoulders.
Do Crutches Give You Muscles?
While you’re primarily relying on your arms and upper body to support your weight when using crutches, you’re still using some of your leg muscles. In particular, you’re using the muscles in your back and shoulders. So crutches can actually be a good way to exercise those muscles and improve your strength.
Are crutches hard on your hands? Crutches are basically designed to rest on the tops of your arms. So while you do have to grip them tightly, they shouldn’t be getting in the way of your hands or causing pain.
instructions for using crutches
The website, Everyday Health has some good tips on how to use crutches.
- When you’re using crutches, always try to keep your weight supported on your good foot. This will help take the pressure off of your injured leg.
- To walk with crutches, hold them at your sides with the handgrips parallel to the floor. Step forward with your good foot, and then push down on the handgrips to lift your injured leg and bring it forward.
- Be careful when going up or down stairs. You may need to take smaller steps, or hold on to the handrail for extra support.
- When you’re getting into or out of your car, try to sit sideways on the seat. You can also ask someone else to help if needed.
Can Crutches Cause Back Pain? Not if You Follow Best Practices
In this article, we covered several topics regarding back pain, and specifically related to using crutches and the possibility that they can cause back pain. If you follow the instructions of your doctor, and perhaps take some simple medicines or even natural remedies like turmeric, you should be OK. Alway check with your doctor, physical therapist or other health professional when dealing with any health issue.
The information on this page is deemed reliable on a best efforts basis. However, it should only be seen for information, educational, and entertainment purposes. It should not be taken as medical advice, and this website assumes no liability. Always consult a medical professional before proceeding with any self treatment or supplement.
