Mobilegs Ultra Crutches 1 Pair

If you have shoulder, hand, wrist or arm issues and need crutches, GET THESE! I've got arthritis & issues in both hands, and have had two major surgeries on my left shoulder, and some nerve damage there. These issues make my shoulder painful & unstable, with risk of dislocation & other injury if I put weight onto my outstretched or straightened arm. Also, gripping things or putting weight onto my hands causes pain & trigger finger, and my grip of narrow things, like standard crutch grips, isn't strong. Unfortunately, my knees aren't great, either, and I needed a total knee replacement last month. Using standard crutches a few years ago after minor knee surgery was a disaster, so I started researching alternatives, hoping to avoid using a wheelchair or walker, since my home has a lot of stairs. I stumbled upon these Mobilegs crutches, and the design sounded promising for my issues, so I took a gamble. So glad I did! I highly recommend getting them ahead of time, watching the company's videos, and practicing to get the hang of it. The video really makes the difference. After watching it, it "clicked", and I within a few minutes I was getting around easily, safely & comfortably. Yes, they are a bit tough to adjust. The key is to wiggle/twist from side to side as you try to push the button. If your hands are weak or arthritic like mine, you might need a 2nd person to help push the button while you twist & pull. Don't do what I did - use a pen to push the button. I pushed too far acvidentally and pushed completely inside & up, had to get a pair of needlenose pliers to pull it out & back into place, and start over. The Mobilegs allows your arm, wrist & hand to be in a more natural position - not stiff straight & tense at your side. The hand grips flare out to the sides just a bit, taking stress off your wrist & elbow, and the thicker, firmly padded non-slip grips are much easier on your hands, distributingbthe pressure across the palm instead of across your knickles or thumb base. The silicone-type material was comfortable, and didn't chafe or get sweaty, sticky or grimy, and easily wiped clean. The best part is the shoulder piece. It's a soft-but-firm silicone rubber, curved & wide to fit comfortably under your armpit, but it rests on a spring-rocker base, so it moves with you as you walk or swing thru your steps, without rubbing or chafing, and the mesh grid surface keeps you from getting sweaty. It also didn't rub & damage my bare skin or clothing - sweaters, tshirts, tank tops, etc. Though, for the ladies, if you wear underwire bras, depending on where they hit under your arm, the end of the wire might catch & pinch. This only happened to me on one side, and only with some bras, so I switched to a wireless bra. What I liked best about these crutches was how much more stable I felt. Because the design angles them slightly away from your sides, it keeps you more naturally upright vs leaning forward or resting on the shoulder pads like standard crutches, and you feel more balanced and stable, and never feel like you're tipping in any direction. The ar. Position is more like your natural arm position when walking, too, which also helped. I used them for 3 weeks, and never once did I get any pain in my hands, arms, shoulders, or back, like I did with standard crutches. The larger diameter of the legs and beefy rubber feet - which have circular grooves and are slightly convex for traction - were great for moving smoothly over rough surfaces or carpet, hardwood, tile and wet pavement, and on stairs. I'm 5'8", with long arms & torso, and being able to adjust leg height vs upper body/arm length was a real bonus and key factor in how comfortable they were to use. My surgeon and the therapists that worked with me post-op in the hospital the day of my surgery loved these crutches because of how adjustable & stable they were, and how easily I was able to get up and get around on them immediately after waking up compared to standard ones. My husband is 6'2", with very long arms & legs and there's more than enough length for him, too. As a nice benefit, the handle grips & shoulder pads made it easier to rest them against a wall or table, etc., within reach without falling down, and the soft shoulder pads make it easier to squueze & hold under your arm while standing when you need to use your hands, say, to sign in at the doctor, open a door, pay at a cash register, zip a coat, etc. They are more exoensive than standard crutches, but well worth it, especially if there's a chance you or a loved one might need crutches again. Between arthritis & clumsiness, I'm sure I'll need crutches again, so these are going in the closet for next time.