Let’s Face it…Crutches Suck!
It’s still hard for me to believe that the same crutches, the same design that doctors hand out to patients today are more or less the same kind of crutches handed out to injured soldiers during the Civil War.
And although crutches are truly terrible, they can be a useful treatment to help any injured runner heal faster.
But you as a runner have to understand there’s a very high price to pay for using crutches. With one week of immobilization and non-weight-bearing on crutches you will have a 17% reduction in the muscle diameter size in that lower extremity. At six weeks, the damage is 60% and you actually can wind up with permanent atrophy as a result of being on the crutches too long.
That’s right. You can actually get permanent weakness as a consequence of using the crutches.
Today on the Doc On The Run podcast we’re talking about 3 keys to less time on crutches.
3 things you should not tell your new doctor
3 mistakes runners make that lead to plantar plate surgery
Is plantar fascia really a ligament?
3 ways a doctor convinces you you need plantar plate surgery
When can you resume pushups with hallux rigidus?
The 3 problems (not 2) solved by boot and crutches
Plantar plate surgery is a failure to act quickly
How self judgment may be slowing your injury recovery
Chronic stress reaction versus acute on chronic stress reaction in a runner
Radiologist and Orthopedic doctor disagree on my stress fracture diagnosis
Difference between MRI vs MRA in runner with ankle injury
2 Ways running shoes cause shin splints
2 reasons toe drifts sideways with plantar plate injury
3 Phases of ankle sprain recovery in runners
Doctor missed fracture on my X-rays
Calcaneal stress fracture in runners good news bad news
Broken toe can I compete in 4 weeks?
Orthopedic doctor said come back 4 weeks after fracture
Can I use a bone stimulator for a broken toe?
Medial calcaneal neuritis vs Baxter's neuritis in runners with heel pain
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