"I had two bad hips, but at 48 years old they didn't want to replace them so they decided to re-form them. This involved drilling off pieces of the bone and repairing the labrum. Unfortunately with this surgery I had to be completely off each leg for two weeks and then two more weeks of just toe touching. I had the first surgery done in June and use traditional crutches for my recovery. I knew enough to not put the weight of my body on my underarms but still wore my sides sore with holding the crutches tight to my body. My hands and elbows got very sore within the first week. By two weeks I hated those crutches.
My second surgery was scheduled for October and I knew I wanted something different. I researched and foundsmartCRUTCHES. But, they weren't available yet in the U.S. so I contacted the manufacturer and asked them to let me know as soon as they were. Interestingly enough, two weeks before my surgery I injured my elbow, tennis elbow they called it. I also received my crutches before the surgery.
Fast forward to post surgery. I will admit the smartCRUTCHES have a learning curve to them. I was less steady and it require more arm/shoulder strength to use them vs. traditional crutches. I learned with practice and became more steady. At one point about a week after surgery I was a little frustrated so I switched back to the traditional crutches for a day. That was a huge mistake. Those crutches aggravated my tennis elbow so badly, it made it worse than it had ever been. When I switched back to the smartCRUTCHES there was no strain on my tennis elbow. I was so glad it allowed me to keep resting that elbow but allowed me to still be mobile.
I'm sold onsmartCRUTCHES. It took me about a week and a half of using them and playing around with the different angles to find what worked for me but they are great.
Thank you smartCRUTCH for making my recovery period much less painful."
David H, Indiana, USA
They are bigger than normal tips and take a slight adjustment to get used to but are really solid. I lost a leg so use forearm crutches with my full weight, and many tips I have tried are 'squishy'. Some are also a really small diamteter and require a better balance. These are solid, definitely not squishy and have been really good on mutiple surfaces in the past 2 weeks, dirt, turf, grass, concrete; all felt really solid and secure.
My podiatrist and physical therapists recommend that I use two hiking poles to help me walk with a good gait and avoid twisting my ankles or falling. I really like these poles. I had trouble with regular hiking poles because I have carpal tunnel symptoms. With the thumb position for the grips on these, my wrists are in a better position. The poles are lightweight and fold easily, so they are great for travel. I just hooked the bag to my backpack when I was on planes and trains. One warning: the flip locks with screws can come out much more easily than you would expect. I lost both of mine. Fortunately, I could still use the poles although they were then a touch shorter than ideal. I am going to order replacement flip locks and try to figure out a way to be sure they won't come out.
The best mobility aid out there
It looks different but cuter!
I got these crutches after a recent groin injury and I could not be happier. My wrists and hands were hurting from the traditional crutches I got from urgent care, so I needed a quick solution. Smart Crutch took the time to answer all my questions before and after purchase to ensure I had the right fit and was happy with my purchase. They have excellent customer service and truly care about their customers. I have hEDS, so while I hope to not need these in the future, it is comforting to know that I have a reliable and comfortable option for getting around when my body needs extra support. These are sleek and pretty lightweight. I am 5'1 and can easily maneuver these. After I heal from this injury and am walking on two feet again, I look forward to using these for museums and other activities that require long standing/additional support. The investment is worth every penny!