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Crutch

A crutch is generally thought of as a medical device that is used to support all or part of a patient's body weight. Crutches have long been used as an ambulatory aid to assist injured or otherwise disabled persons in standing or walking. A patient after injuring a foot or lower leg, commonly uses a pair of crutches to support himself or herself when recuperating. The crutches aid the patient when walking by supporting a portion of the patient's body weight. Depending on the severity of the disability or injury, one may require the use of crutches from a few days to a few weeks or months to an indefinite period of time. Common reasons for the short-term or long-term use of crutches include fracture or sprain of a leg, foot, knee or ankle, post-surgery, arthritis, partial paralysis, accident, sports or occupational injury, etc. A crutch for assistance in walking typically comprises a crutch main body, an armpit rest portion at an upper end of the crutch main body, a food portion at the lower end and a handle grip at the intermediate portion. The crutch is intended for use by a person having difficulty in walking due to cerebral apoplexy, bone fracture resulting from an accident. While there are numerous design variations, a typical crutch has a "Y" frame design with two upper members or bows which converge at a lower end where a central leg is formed or attached. The upper ends of the upper members extend vertically upward from the point of convergence and parallel to each other but spaced apart. An underarm support brace is attached across the upper ends of the bows. A horizontal hand grip is mounted between the upper members or bows at an arms length or slightly less than an arms length from the under arm brace.

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