Crutch Survey Results

In order to effectively compare how traditional crutches measure up against the modified crutches in the multiple areas, field experiments were ran by some of the members in the group. The following are the results from using traditional crutches and the modified crutches.


Matt Gehret:

Questions to ask when using traditional crutches:

1. List specific areas where pain occurs:

1. Hands: No pain
2. Wrist: Rubbed sore spot on inside of wrist
3. Shoulders: Mild discomfort in armpit
1. What was the terrain like that you walked on?  Staircase on Bossone third floor (27 steps)
2. How many feet/ miles did you walk? Ten sets of stairs
3. How long did you walk before you started to experience pain? Eight sets of stairs

Questions to ask when using the modified crutches:

1. Did you experience less pain with these crutches? Yes, less impact on landing
2. What was the terrain you walked on?  Staircase
3. How many feet/ miles did you walk?  Ten sets of stairs
4. How long did you walk before you started to experience pain (if you experience any pain)?  Ten sets of stairs
5. If you experienced any pain, list areas where the pain occurred:  Slight pain in armpit
6. Was adjusting to these crutches easy?  Yes, very simple

Nick Houriet:

Questions to ask when using traditional crutches:

1.            List specific areas where pain occurs:

                  a.   Hands: hurts my thumb joint from the impact

                  b.   Wrist: hurts my wrist from the impact

                  c.   Shoulders: The pads were very uncomfortable, also hurt from the 

impact

2.            What was the terrain like that you walked on? Stairs, flat pavement

3.            How many feet/ miles did you walk? I walked up and down 1.5 flights of stairs, and about 100 feet on pavement.

4.            How long did you walk before you started to experience pain? The stairs began to hurt almost immediately from the impact, especially on the way down. The flat ground began to hurt after about 100 feet as soon as my arms got tired and the shoulder pads began to hit my armpits.

Questions to ask when using the modified crutches:

1.                  Did you experience less pain with these crutches? Overall, yes. 

2.            What was the terrain you walked on? Up stairs and over short distance (50 feet) on flat ground

3.            How many feet/ miles did you walk?  Up and down 2 flights of stairs, 50 feet on flat ground

4.            How long did you walk before you started to experience pain (if you experience any pain)? I walked 50 feet without having any major pain, the arm rests still hurt a little

5.            If you experienced any pain, list areas where the pain occurred. In the armpits, not long any pain in the wrists and elbows from the impact.

6.            Was adjusting to these crutches easy? Yes!

Alexis Oleshytsky:

Questions to ask when using traditional crutches:

1.     List specific areas where pain occurs:

a.     Gluteus Maximus

b.     Discomfort in armpits

2.     What was the terrain like that you walked on?    Stairs in Bossone

3.     How many feet/ miles did you walk?  Three flights of 27 stairs (up and down =1 flight)

4.     How long did you walk before you started to experience pain?

a.      Around 2 flights when I started experiencing discomfort and lack of catching my breath

b.     I could have gone longer if I had to, but my legs started getting wobbly and I was experiencing discomfort.

Questions to ask when using the modified crutches:

1.     Did you experience less pain with these crutches? No

2.     What was the terrain you walked on? Twenty- seven step flight

3.     How many feet/ miles did you walk? Two flights going up and down

4.     How long did you walk before you started to experience pain (if you experience any pain)? After first flight

5.     If you experienced any pain, list areas where the pain occurred: Moderate pain in armpits and gluteus maximus

6.     Was adjusting to these crutches easy? Indifferent- took the same time it did to adjust to traditional crutches.

7.     Any other changes that helped alleviate pain? Foam padding helped lessen the pain.

Rio Monte:

Questions to ask when using traditional crutches:

1.     List specific areas where pain occurs:

a.     Hands: No significant pain

b.     Arms: No significant pain

c.     Wrist: Felt strain

d.     Shoulders: Armpit area experienced discomfort after 2 flights

e.     Legs: “Uninjured” leg felt more pain and pressure from walking up and down flights

2.     What was the terrain like that you walked on? A flight of 27 steps

3.     How many feet/ miles did you walk? Not applicable

4.     How long did you walk before you started to experience pain? 2 flights of steps.

Questions to ask when using the modified crutches:

1.     Did you experience less pain with these crutches? Yes

2.     What was the terrain you walked on? A flight of 27 steps

3.     How many feet/ miles did you walk? N/A

4.     How long did you walk before you started to experience pain (if you experience any pain)? Two flights of steps

5.     If you experienced any pain, list areas where the pain occurred: Armpit areas and leg muscle of the “uninjured leg”

6.     Was adjusting to these crutches easy? Yes