Will I hurt my knee if I use the iWALK crutch?

Answer: No.  There is a common misconception that you kneel on your knee when using the iWALK crutch, but this is incorrect.  When you use the iWALKFree, only your shin comes in contact with the knee platform, much in the same way it would be on a knee scooter (but with all the added benefits of being able to actually walk!) When the knee is bent 90 degrees, the patellar region is not in contact with the platform and thus does not bear any direct weight when using the iWALK Crutch.

Will the iWALK crutch work for me?  What are the physical limitations?

Answer: If you’re like most people with lower leg injuries that need to be non-weight bearing, then the answer is most likely YES!  But the iWALKFree, like other alternatives to conventional crutches, does not work for 100% of cases. Before you order iWalk crutch, please review the “Can I Use it?” section of this website.

Will my health insurance cover the cost of my iWALK crutch?

Answer:  Possibly.  We wish we could give you a better answer, however, with the constantly changing climate of health insurance, there is no simple answer.  Coverage for traditional crutch alternatives depends on your insurance carrier, your physician, where you live and other factors over which we have no control.  Check with your physician and insurance company to find out if the device is covered and what percentage or amount they will pay. You can also take a more proactive approach.  Administering your own claim is not difficult, and we have had many customers who choose this route and are successful.  To make things easier, we’ve provided  step by step instructions which you can find by clicking here  (link to the new insurance page). Typically iWALKFree will be classified under the DME (Durable Medical Equipment) portion of your insurance policy, however, there are many exceptions.  When making inquiries to your physician or insurance company, you will want to provide them with our product code, which is HCPCS E0118.

For more information, please visit the Insurance page of our website, or check with your local retailer or distributor.

Why didn’t I know about the iWALK crutch?

Answer:  Most people’s first impression when encountering iWALKFree is “Why haven’t I seen that before?”. They assume that it’s a new product, when in fact, it’s not. iWALKFree was first introduced to the Canadian market in 2000 and has since helped thousands of users achieve hands free mobility.

Our beginnings were quite modest – changing a good idea into a viable company takes time.  Our organic growth has allowed us to keep our focus on product quality and customer service, which remain our first priorities.

Look for new and exciting things coming from iWALKFree in the future as we expand our company and our products.

My physician doesn’t think that an iWALK crutch will work for me, but I think it will.  Why does my physician disagree?

Answer: Your physician may very well be correct. iWALKFree isn’t for everyone, visit our Can I use it? Page and see for yourself.  After reviewing the guidelines, if you still think iWALKFree will work for you, then you should bring this information to the attention of your physician.

We understand that “new” products require careful consideration and your health and safety is your health care provider's main responsibility.  Crutches are conservative, time proven solution to non-weight bearing injuries. It’s likely that your physician may not realize that we have been providing hand-free mobility to thousands of  grateful, enthusiastic users for over 10 years – and our users include medical professionals! Bottom line is that the iWalk free has   clinically proven results, something other alternatives to crutches can’t say! Most importantly, we have many happy customers – but feel free to send your doctor to our site or have them give us a call. We would be happy to respond to any questions or concerns they may have.

How do I know which size iWALK I should order (Small, Medium, or Large)?

Check out our size chart to get all the details on selecting the correct size. 

Where do I get my iWALK crutch?

iWALKFree is available through many retail outlets referred to as DME (Durable Medical Equipment) or HME (Home Medical Equipment) outlets.  We’re in the process of building our dealer network listing (by the way, if you’re a dealer, please contact us so we can include you on our listing) so you can more quickly find your iWALKFree.  If a local retailer near you isn’t familiar with iWALK, please have them call us and we can arrange your purchase through them.  There are also numerous online retailers of the iWALK crutch.

Our first priority is to make sure that you have a fast, convenient way to get the iWALKFree.  We understand that many of our customers have an unexpected injury, and getting their iWALK crutch immediately is essential.  If the standard retail or online outlets are not convenient for you, we offer USA and Canadian residents the ability to purchase the device directly from us – simply visit our shopping cart page (link to cart) or call us (link to contact page – phone number section) to place an order.  Shipment is generally same day and can ship from our warehouses in Toronto, Canada or Los Angeles, California.

For customers outside of the USA and Canada, please contact your country’s distributor to arrange your purchase.  You can find them in the Buy section of our website.

Why are the straps on the iWALK crutch so long?

Answer:  We’ve intentionally made the straps extra long to accommodate our larger users. Smaller users can either ignore the extra length, or you can cut off the excess.  If you choose to do this, make sure you leave a few extra inches so that you can tightly hold onto the strap end when installing and tightening the iWALKFree.

The calf strap was made intentionally longer because some users that are wearing a cast will need a longer strap to get around their cast (if the cast extends into the area that kneels onto the knee platform).

I'm wearing a cast. Can I still use the iWALK crutch?

Answer: Yes!  In fact, we made the calf strap extra long just for this purpose.  But there’s few things you should know.

First and foremost, check with your physician.  That done, the most obvious limitation is that the cast has to be restricted to the lower leg, below the knee (you have to be able to bend your knee 90 degrees to use the iWALK crutch).

Ideally, your cast will not contact the knee platform (but it’s ok if it does…we’ll cover that in a minute).  So here’s a hint – sometimes your physician will make your cast a little shorter if they know you intend to use the iWALKFree.  The knee platform is 12 inches long, so if your cast can be more than 12” from the front of your thigh (with your leg bent at 90 degrees), you’re home free.  To find this spot, kneel on a chair or stool so that your leg is bent 90 degrees.  Measure back 12 inches from the front of your thigh, going back towards your foot.  If the cast is below this point, then you can wear iWALKFree without any accommodations.

If any part of the cast is going to rest on the knee platform, you’ll want to measure the diameter of your casted calf at the location where the calf strap will go around your calf.  To find this spot, kneel on a chair or stool so that your leg is bent 90 degrees.  Measure back 10 inches from the front of your thigh, going back towards your foot.  If the casted circumference at that point is greater than 22 ½”, then you may still be able to use iWALKFree, but you’ll need to contact us before you place your order so we can determine if iWALKFree will work for you.

You’re also going to want to add an additional pad or spacer to level your leg on the knee platform.  This is necessary because the cast will slightly elevate the back of your leg, plus there will be a “step” where the cast ends and the uncasted part of your leg begins.  To take up this space, we can supply additional padding (call us), but we’ve found that a folded hand towel makes an ideal spacer.  Try it first and see how it works for you.  Put the spacer directly onto the knee platform so that it contacts the uncasted part of your leg and voila…you’ve customized your iWALKFree for your casted leg.

Will I hurt my knee if I use iWALK crutch?

Answer: No. There is a common misconception that you are kneel on your knee (maybe that’s why the word is “knee-l”) when using iWALKFree, but you don’t.  When you use the iWALKFree, only your shin comes in contact with the knee platform (perhaps we should have called it the shin platform?)  When the knee is bent 90 degrees, the patellar region is not in contact with the platform and thus does not bear any direct weight when using the iWALKFree.

I just started using my iWALK crutch and I feel unstable.

Answer: That’s ok…nothing feels as normal as our own limbs, so for some, balancing on a prosthetic leg can be quite a challenge. But then again, so can walking with crutches.  So remember, as we pointed out in the preceding FAQ, the first thirty seconds are the worst thirty seconds. Stick with it, follow instructions, and you’ll adapt…and be free of crutches. You might also check out our Tips and Tricks section.

What if I buy an iWALK Crutch and I can’t use it?

Answer: Almost everyone can use the iWALKFree (see preceding FAQ) but if you’ve tried your best and it doesn’t work for you, we offer a 7 day satisfaction warranty if you purchase your iWALKFree directly from us.  So while we want you to be free of crutches, if it doesn’t work for you, we’ll take it back.  Just remember that you’ll need to contact us for a return authorization number. Details of the warranty can be found in the shopping cart in our Buy section.

Can I go up and down stairs with the iWALK crutch?

Answer: Yes.  Navigating stairs on conventional crutches is dangerous and strenuous, but taking stairs is one thing that you can do with your iWALK crutch that you can’t do with a knee scooter or conventional crutches.  Take a look at our video to see how.

How long will my iWALK crutch last?

Answer:  Nothing lasts forever, but your iWALKFree will last a long, long time…probably much longer than the time you will need to recover.  The most common things to wear out are the knee platform pad, the thigh saddle pads or the rubber foot tread.  But fear not.  Replacements for all of the parts of the iWALKFree are available from us.

Can I wear different shoes with my iWALK crutch?

Answer: Yes!  But if the height difference is more than ½ inch, you’ll want to adjust the height of the knee platform and the thigh straps.  Luckily we’ve thought of this, so it’s quick and easy to make height adjustments.  See our Fitting instructions

Can I wear short pants with the IWALK Crutch?

Answer:  Yes.  The special padding used on your iWALKFree is hypoallergenic and FDA and CE approved to come in contact with your skin.

Can I sit down wearing the iWALK Crutch?

Answer: Yes, but you’ll need ample space in front of your chair for the beam below your knee to extend.  If this is an issue, we’ve designed iWALKFree to be easy and quick to put on and take off.

I have a broken bone in my lower leg.  Can I use an iWALK crutch?

Answer:  Most often the answer is yes.  If the broken bone is in your foot or ankle, almost certainly you can use iWALKFree.  If in your fibula, then it’s  also very likely.  If you have a broken tibia, then you probably cannot use iWALKFree but we’ve seen many instances where this was still possible.  In all cases where there are fractures, you need to check with your physician before using iWALKFree.