A client has multiple sclerosis and uses crutches to assist with mobility. The client uses a Lofstrand crutch. What is the best explanation of this type of crutch by the student nurse to the nurse educator?
A) Single hand bar for the user to grip and a cuff that fits around the arm
B) Two bars extending straight down to the floor, connected by a rounded end
C) Gives more support because it stays in contact with the floor
D) Reaches from the ground to the client's axillae or forearm
A
Feedback:
Crutches are walking aids made of wood or metal in the form of a shaft. They reach from the ground to the client's axillae or forearm. The Lofstrand crutch has a single hand bar for the user to grip and a cuff that fits around the arm. People with a permanent disability (e.g., multiple sclerosis or post-polio syndrome) or a long-term disability (e.g., spinal cord injury) often prefer this crutch. The person can drop the hand bar and grasp a handrail or do work without losing the crutch. Although the Lofstrand crutch is more convenient than traditional crutches, it provides less stability. The platform crutch is used in a similar manner. Another type of crutch is called a rocker crutch. This crutch has the two bars extending straight down to the floor, connected by a rounded end or rocker. The rocker end contains a rubber pad, to prevent slipping. This crutch gives more support, because it stays in contact with the floor while the client rocks on the crutch and swings the weight through.
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