Forearm crutches vs iWALK Hands-Free Crutch Comparison

iWALK vs Forearm Crutches

What are forearm crutches used for?

Forearm crutches, also known as walking or hand crutches, are one of the leading mobility devices for leg injuries, especially outside of the USA, but they have some serious limitations. They are used by placing your body weight onto the forearm supports coupled with handles, which puts a lot of pressure on your wrists and can cause pain and blistering Not only is it difficult learning how to walk with forearm crutches, but they also require significant upper body strength, and are very inefficient to move around with. Even if you know how to use forearm crutches, your hands and arms are totally encumbered, so you can’t do normal day-to-day things. Crutches are the most hated device that people will use in their lifetime.

In contrast, iWALK Crutch solves the problems of standard crutches. Because of the intuitive design, your body essentially moves the way it does without an injury, making it extremely easy to use.  It’s both hands free AND pain free because you use your leg to support your weight, not your hands and arms. And it’s highly functional – you walk and stand with your hands and arms 100% free to do whatever you need. iWALK Crutch is more than a crutch, it’s a temporary lower leg.

Not convinced? See the pros and cons of forearm crutches below as compared to iWALK Crutch below:

Will this device work for lower leg injuries?

iWALK Crutch: YES – iWALK Crutch is indicated for virtually all lower leg non-weight bearing injuries.

Forearm Crutches: YES – Forearm crutches are indicated for almost all lower leg non-weight bearing injuries.

Will this device eliminate pain in my hands, arms, wrists or underarms?

iWALK Crutch: YES – Your hands and arms are completely free, just like normal, so it’s pain free.

Forearm Crutches: NO – Your underarms will be spared, but you’ll still feel it in your hands, wrists and arms.

Will it keep my injury partially elevated?

iWALK Crutch: YES – Elevation of the injured area is known to speed healing, and iWALK Crutch provides partial elevation.

Forearm Crutches: NO – With forearm crutches, your foot is at ground level – there’s no elevation benefits.

Is this device hands free?

iWALK Crutch: YES – iWALK Crutch is 100% hands free, so you can return to a normal, functional, independent lifestyle.

Forearm Crutches: NO – Your hands are fully involved in supporting your body weight.

Can you use this device on stairs?

iWALK Crutch: YES – We don’t know of a safer mobility device for stairs. Not only are using your legs for balance and support, you have full access to the hand rail.

Forearm Crutches: YES –But you have to be extremely careful, as your hands are not free to use the hand rail.

Can you use this device on different terrain (grass, gravel, concrete, carpet, etc.)?

iWALK Crutch: YES – You can certainly adapt to different surfaces and terrain in confidence.

Forearm Crutches: YES – Provided that you have good strength and balance. Forearm Crutches on loose surfaces can be dangerous

Can this device be used in tight spaces (kitchens, bathrooms, etc.)?

iWALK Crutch: YES – iWALK Crutch can go where you do. It’s simply a temporary lower leg – you can go where you want and do what you need.

Forearm Crutches: YES – While you can navigate tight spaces, you still can’t do anything that involves hands or arms.

Is this device easy to transport?

iWALK Crutch: YES – iWALK Crutch is light (4.2 lbs) and compact, and easily fits onto a car seat. Disassembled (2 minutes without tools), it’s about the size of a shoebox.

Forearm Crutches: NO – While forearm crutches are better than knee scooters, they are still awkwardly long for transportation and handling.

Does this device increase patient compliance?

iWALK Crutch: YES – Because you can do all your daily tasks on the iWALK Crutch, there’s no need to be non-compliant.

Forearm Crutches: NO – Forearm crutches have significant limitations which leaves users little option but to “cheat” (non-compliance).

Will this device reduce atrophy in my injured leg?

iWALK Crutch: YES – All of the muscles of your upper leg are used like normal when walking on the iWALK Crutch, so muscle atrophy is significantly reduced.

Forearm Crutches: NO – Your injured limb is basically hanging, unused. Muscle atrophy begins immediately and continues throughout your rehabilitation period.

Will this device enable me to continue my daily activities?

iWALK Crutch: YES – You won’t be running any marathons, but iWALK Crutch lets you do just about everything you used to do in your daily routine.

Forearm Crutches: NO – Forearm crutches are extremely limiting and you will need assistance for most common daily activities.

iWALK Crutch Wins!

Now that you’ve compared, the clear winner is iWALK Crutch.  Hands free, pain free, functional mobility is yours, so using forearm crutches for a lower leg injury just doesn’t make sense.

Learn more about the award winning iWALK Crutch

Woman standing with hands up while wearing the iWALK hands-free iWALKFree crutch