Assisted Living: Dealing With Everyone's Emotions

Assisted Living: Dealing With Everyone's Emotions

Make Your Child's Crutches More Comfortable To Use

by Julia Gregory

If your child broke their leg or ankle, there is a good chance that they have to use crutches while they recover. Crutches can be very uncomfortable to use because they apply pressure to areas of the body that typically do not get exposed to large amounts of pressure. If your child is forced to use crutches while they recover, use the guide below to learn how to make it as painless as it can possibly be.

Add Adorable Cushioning

One area of the body that is often affected when using crutches is the armpit area. Since pressure is not often applied to the armpits, when your child is forced to lean their weight on the tops of the crutches that go right into their armpits, it can make the areas very tender because the top of the crutches is so hard. Consider taping cut up pool noodles or small stuffed animals to the top of the crutches to create padding so that they are not as hard and painful to use.

Adjust the Height

Next, you need to adjust the height of the crutches. If the crutches are too long or too short, they will not be easy to use and will cause your child more pain than is needed. The crutches should settle roughly an inch below your child's armpit when they are standing up straight. If there is a large gap between your child's armpit, the crutches are too short, and if the crutches still push into your child's armpit on the shortest setting, they are too long. If this is the case, try a different size of crutches as using the wrong size could cause them to lose their balance and fall.

Have Them Always Wear Shoes

Once the height of the crutches is adjusted, it is important to have your child always wear shoes when they are using the crutches. Using the crutches when they only have socks on their feet could cause them to lose their footing and fall, which could make their injury worse.

Add Crutch Grips

Finally, consider adding crutch grips to your child's crutches. Crutch grips are small grips that can be attached to the handles of the crutches to make them easier to grip. This will cut down on the fatigue your child's hands feel from constantly having to grip the handles of the crutches.

Eventually, your child will get used to using the crutches. Doing what you can to make the process less painful increases the chances of your child taking the doctor's orders seriously and using their crutches the way that they are supposed to use them. If the crutches hurt too much, your child may stop using them or may not use them like he or she should.

Contact Ada Pediatrics PA if you have more questions about how to make using crutches easier on your child.


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About Me

Assisted Living: Dealing With Everyone's Emotions

The decision to move one of my parents into assisted living was one of the most difficult I have ever made. I had extreme feelings of guilt that led to me being at the facility with my parent practically around the clock. It took a few months before I realized that I could not let my own life fall apart from the guilt I was feeling. I also learned that my parent was fine without me constantly hovering around. Since that time, I have had several friends express similar feelings of guilt. I started this blog to help others in the same situation understand not only their feelings about assisted living, but those of their parents.

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