Which accessories are available?
There are many different accessories for forearm crutches. These include different systems that serve as a support or transport aid. These supports have two functions: Firstly, two crutches are usually needed, these can be held together by this type of accessory.
On the other hand, the transport aids/brackets are used for attachment to a wheelchair or bed. Leaning against a wall or a table is also simplified. Thus the forearm crutches do not fall out of reach and are easily accessible for the impaired persons when they are needed.
Especially in winter, two types of additional accessories are used for the forearm crutches. On cold days, snow and ice can make the sidewalks smooth and slippery. In order to still ensure a secure grip on the unsafe ground, so-called spikes or ice tips can be attached to the crutches.
These anchor themselves to the smooth surface and thus offer protection against slipping. Walking with forearm crutches also causes your hands to get cold quickly. However, gloves cannot be worn in most cases because they make it difficult to get a firm grip on the crutches.
A remedy is a so-called stick muff, a type of glove that nevertheless ensures a secure grip. Further accessories are all kinds of padding on the arm cups and the handle.Handle pads are designed to improve the hand’s position on the handle by preventing it from slipping off in heat and sweat. The padding also protects the skin on the palm of the hand.
These grip pads usually consist of a rubber layer on one side and a soft padding layer on the other. They are wrapped around the handle with the rubber layer. This prevents the grip padding from slipping off the handle, while the additional padding increases the grip surface.
Such grip pads cost about 5 to 40 € depending on the material. Alternatively, cycling gloves are often used, which also have a cushioning function and additionally ensure adhesion to the handle. The ergonomic or even anatomic handle is, in contrast to the normal hard plastic handle, adapted to the shape of the hand.
Thus a better pressure distribution on the hand can take place. Especially the ball of the hand in the area of the thumb is supported by the ergonomic handle. This increases the contact surface for the hand, which reduces the strain on the wrist and prevents the hand from slipping off the handle.
In addition, the ergonomic grips are usually made of rubber instead of hard plastic. This also improves the grip on the handle. Forearm crutches with ergonomic grips cost about 25 to 30 €.
Foldable forearm crutches are mainly used by people who are dependent on the crutches for a long time or permanently. These mostly two-part crutches can usually be folded to a length of 50 to 60 cm and are therefore easier to transport. This way they can easily be stowed away in a bag on the backrest of a wheelchair.
Under certain circumstances, they can even be carried in a suitcase or sports bag when travelling. Since the suitability for travel plays a major role with the foldable crutches, they are usually made of extra-light material. The costs are about 30 €, with special accessories even higher.
The foldable crutches are usually secured by a thread and/or clips. To ensure the absolute safety of the foldable crutches, their stability is tested according to fixed regulations. Spikes or ice tips are used especially in the cold winter months.
During this time, ice and snow make the gait additionally unsafe. Spikes can provide special support and security against slipping on such slippery surfaces. The spikes are usually attached to a rubber foot.
This must be put on the metal tube instead of the normal rubber capsule. When buying the foot, you should pay attention to the diameter of the metal tube, so that the foot with the spikes can be fitted exactly. This is essential for the safety of the spikes.
Adhesion buffers are made of somewhat harder rubber in contrast to the normal foot of the forearm crutches. Thus they offer more grip than the “standard rubber foot”, especially on wet and slippery surfaces. Due to the harder material, abrasion is also significantly lower than with the rubber capsule. Such an adhesive buffer can be purchased for about 10 €. When buying it, you have to pay attention to the diameter of the metal tube, because the adhesive buffer has to fit exactly on its lower end.
