Crutches do the job they are made for very well. They are essentially a way to extend your arms’ reach to the ground assisting you with walking. The problem is, your hands are needed to hold on to the crutches making carrying quite difficult. This makes careful planning a crucial part of your independence. Over the years, I have mastered many ways of carrying the things I need. The following are the top 10 ways I use to carry things while using crutches to walk.
Large Backpack – A large backpack is a must for traveling. I use one to carry heavier books or larger items.
Small Backpack (one with a sling strap for easy on and off) – works great for everyday items you need to transport. I use mine every day for going to work. It carries my lunch, water bottle, coffee and other small items I might need.
Cinch Top Backpack – Great for notebook, pens, book or paperwork. I use mine all the time, I like it because it is light and can be carried in hand while still holding my crutch hand grip.
Large Backpack
Small Backpack
Cinch Backpack
Three Finger Hold – this takes some practice but doable. I use my thumb, pointer and middle finger to hold things like a cereal box, book, coffee cup, milk carton and like items while bearing weight through my palms and holding hand grip with the other two fingers.
Spill Proof To Go Coffee Cup– use the three finger method. I mastered this while non-weight bearing so I could get my coffee from car to house. I use this method everyday transporting my coffee down a 300ft concourse and up the elevator to my office. Never spill a drop
Lots of Pockets in Clothes– I never buy a pair of shorts or pants without pockets. Pockets in shirts are excellent ways to transport cell phones or remotes. I have even put a water bottle in a tee shirt pocket. Lots of pockets in jackets a must. My pockets are always full.
Hang Around Neck – This is often the way bath towels are transported, however I hang my pants and shirts around my neck to get them from closet to bed were I can sit to dress. If it can be draped around my neck it gets transported that way.
Kick in front of you – Large boxes, laundry baskets or anything large I kick with my good leg then take step with crutches and kick again. Repeat until you reach your destination. Placing the object on a rolling chair and nudging it along in front of you also works very well.
Recycle plastic shopping bags – These not only work great for picking up a few items at the store, they are an excellent way to retrieve your mail from the mailbox to house. Works well for carrying many items. I often stash one in my pocket so I am prepared just in case I need to carry some thing.
Assembly Line Transport System– This is the way I transport my breakfast, snacks, drinks and things around the kitchen. I move my lunch to the farthest surface I can reach, then crutch as far as I can, reach back grab and move it along to the nest farthest surface I can reach, repeat until you and your lunch have reached your destination. I use this method for cooking and working in the kitchen. While working in the kitchen I drop one crutch and use the counters as my one of my crutches. This way I keep one hand free.
Using these 10 methods of carrying have all become second nature to me. The planning involved has become an integral part of my everyday as well. I am always planning out my daily journeys giving careful planning to ensure I will be prepared for the things I might need to carry.
Thank you for reading. Next post will be Keeping Perspective
