Choosing the Right Mobility Device for Lower Leg Injuries- Crutches, Knee Scooters, and iWALK Hands-Free Crutch

When Choosing the Right Mobility Device, We Know There Are Many Factors to Consider in Order to Find the Best Fit for Your Lifestyle and Your Specific Lower Leg Injury.

Some of the Most Common Injuries Include; Sprained Ankles, Foot Fractures, and Achilles Tendon Ruptures, but There Are Many Other Lower Leg Injuries That Can Result in a Non-weight Bearing Recommendation. In This Article, We’ll First Elaborate on What Non-weight Bearing Means, and Then Present Three Mobility Device Options for Below-The-Knee Injuries: Underarm Crutches, Knee Scooters, and the iWALK Hands-Free Crutch.

When choosing the right mobility device, we know there are many factors to consider in order to find the best fit for your lifestyle and your specific lower leg injury.

Some of the most common injuries include; sprained ankles, foot fractures, and Achilles tendon ruptures, but there are many other lower leg injuries that can result in a non-weight bearing recommendation. In this article, we’ll first elaborate on what non-weight bearing means, and then present three mobility device options for below-the-knee injuries: Underarm crutches, knee scooters, and the iWALK.

What Does Non-Weight Bearing Really Mean?

What does it really mean to use a non-weight bearing device or use a non-weight bearing mobility aid?

To truly be non-weight bearing, you should not put any weight at all on your injured foot or leg. That means no cheating! Even putting your leg down and placing weight on it for a brief moment can cause complications, affect hardware placement, and interrupt the healing process.

Recovering from surgery or coping with chronic conditions that require you to be non-weight bearing is difficult, but the right mobility device makes it possible.

To truly be non-weight bearing, you should not put any weight at all on your injured foot or leg. That means no cheating! Even putting your leg down and placing weight on it for a brief moment can cause complications, affect hardware placement, and interrupt the healing process.

Finding a non-weight bearing mobility aid that won’t encourage you to cheat will help ensure your leg or foot has the time it needs to fully heal. Bones and incisions heal faster when they are left to rest, and swelling and pain is reduced by using non-weight bearing devices. Once your doctor approves partial-weight bearing on your leg or foot, keep these safety tips in mind:

  • Don’t push through the pain: Always stop if you feel any pain and let your healthcare provider know if you are experiencing anything more than mild discomfort.
  • Change up your activities: Once you can start doing gentle exercises, change them up every now and then to make sure you’re not causing overuse injuries.
  • Use a non-weight bearing mobility aid: Even if you’re cleared to start getting some gentle exercise, you may still need a good mobility aid to get you around. The iWALK2.0 is great for getting around the gym.
  • Keep your movements smooth and slow: Quick or sudden movement may re-injure your leg or foot. Take it slow.

Using a non-weight bearing knee scooter/knee walker or other non-weight bearing mobility aid will give your body the best opportunity to heal and recover from your injury or surgery.

It’s important to understand what non-weight bearing really means because it can mean the difference between a full-recovery and additional time healing or serious complications. Finding the perfect non-weight bearing device like the iWALK, helps you avoid the temptation to ‘cheat’ and put pressure on your leg while you recover.

Crutches: The Most Hated Mobility Device You Will Ever Use

When you are diagnosed with a lower leg injury, chances are the first mobility device that most people think of is the standard underarm crutch.  

Keep in mind that just because crutches are commonly suggested, it does not mean that they are necessarily the best option for you. If you have an active lifestyle or need to get back to work quickly, crutches will present many challenges and roadblocks that prevent you from returning to your normal activities.

First of all, keep in mind that crutches require both of your hands to operate, so even the smallest tasks become insurmountable difficulties. Carrying a mug of hot coffee, walking up your front steps, or navigating the complexities of showering are just a few of the challenges you may come up against.

Along with requiring the use of both hands, crutches can also cause considerable pain in your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders.

Something else to keep in mind when using crutches is that they require you to hold your injured leg up with your own upper leg strength. This can lead to ‘cheating,’ or walking on your injury too soon, and the dangers of re-injury. The final word on crutches is that yes, though challenging, with dedication and practice, they can work for lower leg injuries.

Knee Scooters: A Leg Up, but Still Cumbersome

Knee scooters, leg scooters, or knee walkers are another alternative when you have a non-weight bearing condition. While knee scooters seem better than painful crutches, they still present their own, unique set of challenges. Knee scooters generally have four wheels, handlebars with handbrakes, and a padded platform to rest your injured leg on. The two best things about knee scooters is that they are pain-free and offer a platform that keeps your injury elevated. Unfortunately, this is where the benefits end and the challenges begin.

The primary limitation of the knee scooter is that it must be used on level ground at all times. Even the smallest bumps can create tremendous obstacles — while stairs are simply impossible.

Many of the other problems experienced with the knee scooter are due to its awkward size and weight. It is extremely difficult to transport and the top-heavy nature of the knee scooter makes it inherently unsteady. The large turning radius also makes it difficult to turn around in tight spaces. This makes the temptation to cheat when using a knee scooter that much greater.

In addition to these setbacks, the fact that you must use both hands to operate the knee scooter creates similar problems to crutches. For example, holding a cup of coffee while operating a knee scooter is virtually impossible to do without spilling it.

iWALK2.0: The Best Mobility Device for Lower Leg Injuries

The iWALK2.0 is non-weight bearing like crutches and knee scooters. It is both pain-free and offers partial elevation of your injury.

Additionally, it has many other benefits that make it the best choice on the market today for lower leg injuries. The iWALK has a platform that supports your knee, and when the straps are properly secured, you can use it as an actual extension of your own leg.  This, in combination with it being hands-free, allows you to return to your day-to-day routine in no time.

With the iWALK, you can go up and down stairs, walk on uneven terrain, and navigate small spaces with ease. Its streamlined size makes it comfortable to use at the gym, and its functionality lets you return to walking, hiking, shopping, or whatever activity you prefer. The iWALK gives you back the mobility you lost and helps you regain your independence while you recover.

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Unlike crutches or knee scooters, the iWALK uses the muscles in both of your legs, so muscle atrophy may be reduced during this healing period. This is significant because muscle atrophy occurs at a rate of 1.5 to 2 percent per day! Also, increased activity, partial elevation of the lower limb, and use of the leg muscles all increase blood flow, which is known to speed up recovery time.

All of these features and benefits of the iWALK contribute to what we consider the greatest gift of all — improved emotional well-being through the freedom of mobility. But you don’t have to take our word for it; listen to the many inspirational testimonials from our satisfied customers from all over the world. We know you will find that when it comes to hands-free, pain-free, functional mobility, there is no comparison – the iWALK outperforms crutches and knee scooters hands down — and hands-free!

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