Crutches are often necessary after an injury, but their rigid construction and minimal standard padding frequently cause significant discomfort, friction, and pain. These painful pressure points make mobility challenging. Simple, do-it-yourself modifications can vastly improve the user experience by mitigating harsh pressure and reducing the risk of skin irritation. This article provides practical methods for padding your crutches to maximize comfort.
Identifying the Two Primary Pressure Points
Crutches concentrate the body’s weight and movement forces onto two main areas, making them the primary targets for padding. The first is the axillary support, the top bar intended to rest just below the armpit. Constant pressure here can lead to crutch paralysis, involving nerve compression of the brachial plexus nerves. Padding is necessary to prevent skin chafing and mitigate pressure from accidental leaning or maintaining stability. The second area is the handgrip, which should bear the majority of the user’s weight, but this constant load and friction can quickly lead to painful blisters and strain.
Choosing Effective Padding Materials
Effective padding requires materials that offer cushioning, resist compression, and allow for breathability. Accessible household items can easily be repurposed for this function. Thick bath towels or old hand towels are excellent for layering, providing a soft, absorbent buffer against the crutch frame. Foam materials, such as pipe insulation sleeves, yoga mat scraps, or dense sponges, offer robust cushioning. Durable securing agents like heavy-duty duct tape, electrical tape, or self-adhering athletic wrap are needed to keep the layers firmly in place.
Padding the Axillary Supports
To begin padding the axillary supports, start by cutting your chosen material to the correct size. A piece of dense foam or a folded hand towel should be long enough to cover the existing pad and wide enough to wrap around the top bar completely. Layer the material over the existing rubber pad, ensuring the thickest part of the cushioning sits directly on the top surface where contact with the body occurs. You can also slip a clean, thick sock over the layered foam to provide a soft, breathable cover that is easy to remove for washing.
Once the material is correctly positioned, use strong tape to secure it tightly around the entire support, starting at one end and spiraling toward the other. The goal is to prevent any movement, bunching, or slippage of the padding, as a shifting pad can actually increase friction and irritation. Ensure the tape is applied smoothly and firmly, especially around the edges, to create a seamless, non-irritating surface against the skin. Regularly check the padding for signs of flattening or wear, replacing the inner foam layers when the cushioning effect begins to diminish.
Improving Handgrip Comfort
Since the handgrips carry the bulk of your body weight, the padding applied here must be dense and non-slippery. A simple method is to wrap the existing handle with specialized athletic grip tape, similar to what is used for tennis rackets. Alternatively, cut foam pipe insulation to the exact length of the handgrip, slice it lengthwise, and fit it securely over the handle. This foam tubing increases the handle’s diameter, helping to distribute pressure across a larger area of the palm.
After fitting the foam, wrap the entire assembly tightly with self-adhering athletic wrap or electrical tape to prevent rotation during use. The padding must be completely stable, as any slight rotation under load can cause shear friction and lead to blistering. Once the grips are padded, check the crutch height again, as the increased diameter may slightly change the optimal wrist alignment. The handgrips should allow your elbow to be flexed at approximately a 15 to 30-degree angle when resting on the padding.