Crutches
- History
- Function
- Getting the Proper Fit
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History
Since antiquity humans have fashioned support devices to hold themselves up when they became sick or injured. Evidence of such devices dates to 2830 B.C. A carving on the entrance of an Egyptian tomb depicts a figure leaning on a crutchlike staff.
Crutch design has evolved from the basic "T" used by Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol, to aluminum braces with ice-gripping tips or energy-storing tips that function as shock absorbers—kind of like Air Jordans for the injured.
For lower-limb injuries, crutches remain useful today to decrease discomfort, reduce recovery time, and assist walking.
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Crutches
Knee Dislocation Overview
A knee dislocation occurs when the bones that form your knee are out of place.
The bones of your calf (the tibia and fibula) get moved compared to the bone of your thigh (femur). The bones of your knee are held together by strong bands of tissue, called ligaments. For a knee dislocation to happen, these bands have to tear.
Knee Dislocation Causes
Knee dislocations are rare. They usually happen only after major trauma, including falls, car crashes, and other high-speed injuries.
- If the knee is dislocated, it will look deformed. The usual straight line of your leg will be crooked.
- Sometimes, knee dislocations relocate (go back into place) on their own. In this case, the knee will be very swollen and painful.
Knee Dislocation Symptoms
Specifically, there will be a large amount of pain in the knee. Sometimes, there will be n...
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Assistive Devices to Improve Independence »
Assistive devices to improve independence can be classified as follows:
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