Crutches for Injury Recovery and Mobility Support
Breaking a bone, tearing ligaments, or coming out of surgery means your body needs time to heal without bearing full weight. Moving around while protecting injured tissue requires equipment that holds up under actual daily demands. At Vive Health, we've spent years working with orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists to build crutches that handle real recovery, not just light trips around the house.
Forearm Crutches for Active Recovery
Forearm crutches spread your weight through your entire arm instead of jamming it into your armpit. This matters when you're recovering for weeks or months and traditional models start causing nerve damage and shoulder pain. Our aluminum builds support users up to 300 pounds while each crutch weighs just 1.2 pounds.
We've tested these with PTs treating ACL reconstructions, tibial fractures and complex ankle surgeries. Their feedback shaped everything from cuff width to grip angle to how the composite materials absorb impact.
What makes these work:
- Open arm cuffs fit different forearm shapes without pinching
- Composite materials absorb shock with each step
- Rubber tips grip wet tile and carpet equally well
- Height adjusts across 40 inches in 1-inch steps
- Standard cane tips accept aftermarket options for different terrain
Athletes recovering from stress fractures or ligament repairs pick arm crutches because they can move faster without exhausting themselves. You actually get places instead of needing a break halfway across a parking lot.
Traditional Axillary Crutches for Maximum Stability
Traditional underarm models give you better stability right after injury or surgery when your balance is shot. The axillary support works when you need serious weight offloading before moving to forearm options. Youth, adult and tall sizes fit anyone from 4'6" to 6'6".
Aluminum frames stay light while foam padding protects your ribs and palms from constant pressure. Rubber treads grip hospital floors, home tile and outdoor concrete. We've built these to take daily abuse without developing the wobble cheap models show after two weeks.
Crutch Accessories for Extended Wear
Standard equipment gets you moving, but accessories make extended wear bearable. Our five-piece Crutch Accessory Kit includes padded underarm covers, cushioned hand grips and a waterproof storage pouch. Real sheepette material and dense foam stop the pressure points that build up over days of use.
Comfort features that matter:
- Hook and loop fasteners stay put through hundreds of steps
- Latex-free materials won't irritate sensitive skin
- Color options let you pick what you want
- Fits any standard crutch in minutes
- Storage pouch keeps your phone and keys handy while your hands stay on the grips
Support for Specific Injuries
Twisted Ankle Recovery
Ankle sprains need complete weight offloading during those first healing weeks. Even a little pressure can reinjure torn ligaments before they repair. We've worked with orthopedic docs treating thousands of ankle injuries to figure out exactly when weight bearing helps versus hurts recovery.
Pair crutches with our ankle brace supports when you're ready for partial weight bearing. The Vive Hinged Knee Brace gives you adjustable compression while crutches control how much load goes through your healing ankle.
Pulled Hamstring Rehabilitation
Hamstring tears need controlled weight bearing while muscle fibers regenerate. Too much too soon and you're back at square one with fresh tears. Our approach combines mobility aids with targeted compression. The pulled hamstring collection has therapeutic wraps while crutches manage load, protecting healing tissue as you work back to normal activity.
Hamstrings that keep tearing often point to hip or back problems. Your body shifts weight away from weak spots, overloading muscles that weren't built for that kind of stress. Check out our leg and hip braces if your hamstrings keep giving out without obvious reasons.
Picking the Right Equipment
Forearm models: Best for recoveries lasting more than six weeks, active people, or anyone who needs to stay mobile for months
Axillary models: Right for short-term healing, when you need maximum stability, or those first post-surgical weeks when your balance is terrible
Youth sizing: Actually proportioned for kids' bodies, not just smaller adult versions that throw off weight distribution
Accessory kits: Not optional if you're using crutches more than a few days
Getting the Fit Right
Height adjustment prevents nerve damage and keeps you stable. Stand up straight in your normal shoes. Put crutch tips 6 inches in front of your feet. Adjust height so the handgrips line up with your wrist creases. Keep a 2-inch gap between your armpits and the crutch tops. Too tight damages nerves. Too loose and you lose stability.