On "Crutches", and on "on Crutches":
Nov. 13th, 2011 10:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
capri0mniAs an incentive -slash- reward to keep writing, today, I told myself that I wouldn't blather nonsense in my journal until I had caught up, and was on par, with NaNoWriMo.
Ta-DAH!!
Check out the "At this rate, you will finish on:" line.
When I started, I believe that read Feb. 3, 2012
*Preens*
*Ahem* Onto the nonsense:
So, anyway. Inspired by the one-armed ghost in the story I posted for Halloween (and at the last minute-- like Yesterday), I decided to make one of my major-minor characters a crutch-using ghost.
And that sent me looking for crutch pictures on Google, so I could get a sense of the change in Crutch design through the years, for when I settled on a period for my ghost's deathday, and the kind of crutch he would still have ('cause a ghost's form, in my universe, is determined by their bodily self-image in life).
What mostly boggled my mind was the official, medical advice illustrations on the "proper use of crutches." Firstly, what was most annoying (for my purposes) was that they were nearly all the underarm type crutches, and all the sites assumed you were just dealing with a broken leg or sprained ankle, and not something like M.S. or C.P., or other conditions that make your balance go wonky. Secondly, I was bamboozled by the number of posed photographs and diagrammed illustrations that showed the crutch-user standing perfectly upright, with the crutch tips right up next to their ankles (if the person were wearing pants with piping down the side, the crutch would hide it completely). I mean, isn't the whole point of using crutches to broaden your base, to make you more stable? Growing up, all my life, I have never seen anyone use crutches in that way-- we all walked like the quadrupeds we were (I used crutches most of the time, until I went away to college, and decided to save my spoons for studying, and participating in class).
Also, seeing all the pictures of actual crutch users (not interns posing for a Web page) reminded me of how often my therapists would nag me about my crutch-walking posture. They all wanted me to hold my crutches so the thumb-side of my hands were facing forward, and my palms were facing inward. But that always felt uber-awkward to me, and like I couldn't possibly keep firm traction between crutch and ground that way. I prefer/red to hold my crutches with my thumbs facing inward, and my knuckles (fingers, if I stretched them out) facing forward.
Then, I realized something: For me, Crutches are not an aid for walking more normally, 'cause "walking" was never actually a schema that's natural to my brain. Nope. According to my brain, crutches are just an aid for making crawling taller. When was the last time you saw any baby crawling with her fingers pointed out to the side?
For those folks who walked before they got crutches, I bet it's a lot easier and a matter of course to point the hand grip forward, but that's just a guess.
I also learned in my Web surfing last night that my preferred form of crutch is called the Kenny Crutch (After the Australian nurse who designed them for polio patients) -- they have two upright supports that taper to the tip kind of like a Y, with the arm cuff and hand grip attached at two points, instead of one. Here's the only place online I found that has that style for sale:
http://www.fetterman-crutches.com/crutches/ed-openshaw-kenny-armband/index.php
Mine were also custom made, but they were made by guys in the rehab hospital's workshop, out of pressure treated plywood and PVC pipe (for the cuffs), not rosewood and high-grade leather. ...I should probably get back into condition to use them more. Not just for health, but for having extremely effective clue-by-fours when I go out into the world...
Check out the "At this rate, you will finish on:" line.
When I started, I believe that read Feb. 3, 2012
*Preens*
*Ahem* Onto the nonsense:
So, anyway. Inspired by the one-armed ghost in the story I posted for Halloween (and at the last minute-- like Yesterday), I decided to make one of my major-minor characters a crutch-using ghost.
And that sent me looking for crutch pictures on Google, so I could get a sense of the change in Crutch design through the years, for when I settled on a period for my ghost's deathday, and the kind of crutch he would still have ('cause a ghost's form, in my universe, is determined by their bodily self-image in life).
What mostly boggled my mind was the official, medical advice illustrations on the "proper use of crutches." Firstly, what was most annoying (for my purposes) was that they were nearly all the underarm type crutches, and all the sites assumed you were just dealing with a broken leg or sprained ankle, and not something like M.S. or C.P., or other conditions that make your balance go wonky. Secondly, I was bamboozled by the number of posed photographs and diagrammed illustrations that showed the crutch-user standing perfectly upright, with the crutch tips right up next to their ankles (if the person were wearing pants with piping down the side, the crutch would hide it completely). I mean, isn't the whole point of using crutches to broaden your base, to make you more stable? Growing up, all my life, I have never seen anyone use crutches in that way-- we all walked like the quadrupeds we were (I used crutches most of the time, until I went away to college, and decided to save my spoons for studying, and participating in class).
Also, seeing all the pictures of actual crutch users (not interns posing for a Web page) reminded me of how often my therapists would nag me about my crutch-walking posture. They all wanted me to hold my crutches so the thumb-side of my hands were facing forward, and my palms were facing inward. But that always felt uber-awkward to me, and like I couldn't possibly keep firm traction between crutch and ground that way. I prefer/red to hold my crutches with my thumbs facing inward, and my knuckles (fingers, if I stretched them out) facing forward.
Then, I realized something: For me, Crutches are not an aid for walking more normally, 'cause "walking" was never actually a schema that's natural to my brain. Nope. According to my brain, crutches are just an aid for making crawling taller. When was the last time you saw any baby crawling with her fingers pointed out to the side?
For those folks who walked before they got crutches, I bet it's a lot easier and a matter of course to point the hand grip forward, but that's just a guess.
I also learned in my Web surfing last night that my preferred form of crutch is called the Kenny Crutch (After the Australian nurse who designed them for polio patients) -- they have two upright supports that taper to the tip kind of like a Y, with the arm cuff and hand grip attached at two points, instead of one. Here's the only place online I found that has that style for sale:
http://www.fetterman-crutches.com/crutches/ed-openshaw-kenny-armband/index.php
Mine were also custom made, but they were made by guys in the rehab hospital's workshop, out of pressure treated plywood and PVC pipe (for the cuffs), not rosewood and high-grade leather. ...I should probably get back into condition to use them more. Not just for health, but for having extremely effective clue-by-fours when I go out into the world...
no subject
Date: 2011-11-14 07:29 am (UTC)I have not! But I do thank you for the mental image of a super-intense baby crawling forward on fists held straight, karate-training style.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-14 04:22 pm (UTC)Oh... right... "Walking Tall" was the name of a karate movie, wasn't it. I fail at pop culture references.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-14 01:15 pm (UTC)And ::raspberries:: to you and your Nano word count!!! ::envy:: How do your hands stand up to it? Mine are not happy. I'm going to have to start looking at voice rec software seriously soon...
no subject
Date: 2011-11-14 04:20 pm (UTC)"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time, and annoys the pig."
As for Nano, I've been using the Web App for Write or Die, which prompts you to keep writing non-stop for a set period of time. And it allows you one pause without penalty; I've been committing myself to steady writing for short bursts, and making sure to hit pause when the time runs down to half-way.
Also, my personal point of discomfort is not in my hands so much as my right hip, and this time around, I have a warm kitty who insists on snuggling on my lap, on that side. So. Unfair advantage.
no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-22 06:16 pm (UTC)Granted, things are getting better, little by little. I haven't been in the market for new crutches since I was 16 (41 years ago). So when I went looking for pictures of crutches for this writing project of mine, I was pleased to see that the crutches now come with an angle to them, so even when your forearm is not parallel to your spine, the tip of the crutch is still perpendicular to the ground. However, the angle is such that it only works properly if you walk with your palms facing inward.
... Of course, if someone could get me $845 (plus tax) I could get one of those custom made rock maple crutches... I guess I better get back in shape with the pair I already have, first, though, huh? ;)