Walking and mobility aids are very important to people with any broken bones, but especially for those whose injuries involve legs, knees, ankles and anything else below the belt. Indeed, the worst thing that I experienced from my fracture was not being able to move around as easily as I could before my injury. The following descriptions and links are related to the subject.

Crutches

Don’t you just hate those? I did. And it took me quite some time to get used to them. Aluminum crutches are usually provided by a medical facility that tenders to a broken joint. They are ugly and uncomfortable, but they are free! However, for those who weren’t given a pair, there are some ways to get them.

First, you should try ebay.com and halfvalue.com for a pair of used ones. It will take you some time and effort to get it, but if you short on money it is the best way to go.

If you can afford something over $20.00 then try Target.com

Also, if like me you are experiencing pain in your hands from hobbling all day, you can check all those mentioned websites for various pads for crutches. Prices and comfort vary from site to site, but it may pay off pain-wise.

One-leg Crutch

This is an interesting device someone suggested as an alternative to regular crutches. I’m not sure if I would use it myself (I’m a big chicken when it comes to alternatives), but it certainly looks good.

Using Crutches

Here is an excellent link to a page describing how to size and use your crutches. It also has some great Do’s and Don’ts. I wish I could have found this page when I needed it.

http://www.footphysicians.com/footankleinfo/crutches.htm

And if you are still in doubt on how to use those crutches and need someone to literally show it to you, here is a link to a slideshow that shows how to do it.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crutches/HA00063

Another amazing alternative to crutches for those with injuries below the knee is Roll-A-Bout walker.

I’ve heard from many fellow ankle-breakers that this is a great device that increases your mobility and gives you a unique opportunity to free your hands, which of course is impossible with crutches.

Wheelchairs

Walkers