Using crutches as a student can be very demanding, especially when you have to lead a normal school life like you used to before the crutches came along.
However, there are ways you can scale through the hurdles that come with using crutches at school. You’ll learn them as you read on.
Whether you’re in high school or University College, the information contained therein will help you to easily navigate any difficulty that might come with using crutches in school.
Table of Contents
- 10 Unique Tips on How to Use Crutches in School
- 1. Pick the right crutches
- 2. Be good with your crutches before resumption
- 3. Get a note from your doctor
- 4. Talk to the management and other concerned professionals at school
- 5. Carefully plan your route
- 6. Have a sturdy backpack for your books
- 7. Sit at the end of the row
- 8. Seek support from your friend(s)
- 9. Use the Elevator
- 10. Try out other alternatives for your crutches
10 Unique Tips on How to Use Crutches in School
1. Pick the right crutches
This is the first thing you must deal with before resumption. Ensure that you get the right one that fits perfectly.
This will enable you to have an easy and hitch-free experience when you resume school.
Make sure that your crutches come with the right features like padded handles and other functions that will prevent you from slipping while using them.
Related: Top 10 Places Where to Buy Forearm Crutches
2. Be good with your crutches before resumption
You must learn how to use your crutches properly before resuming school. This will help you to easily walk freely in school.
Learn how to walk up and down the stairs and how to sit down and stand up with your crutches.
Being able to use the crutches effectively, especially if you are a first-time user, will go a long way in helping you to walk around the school without hassles.
3. Get a note from your doctor
Most schools have a policy that will require you to show a doctor’s report or note before you can be exempted from participating in school activities that require physical strength or are detrimental to your current condition.
Your ability to present a note from your doctor when you resume will go a long way in showing that your injury is real and you’re not in any way faking it.
The note from your doctor will equally enumerate everything the school will like to know about your condition and will, in the long run, enable them to treat you better.
4. Talk to the management and other concerned professionals at school
When you resume school, the first thing you need to do is to go and see the school management and let them know your current condition. This should also be backed up by your doctor’s note as discussed above.
Apart from the school management, other important persons you must talk to include:
Your school nurse
Your school nurse or medical personnel should be notified of your condition for you to get medical help or assistance whenever you need it in school.
Your teacher
You must inform your teacher(s) about your condition. This will enable them to allow you to have your seat at a place that will be appropriate for you in class.
Your teacher will equally allow you to come into the class a few minutes late or leave early to enable you to avoid crowded places.
Related: How to Make Crutches without Wood (DIY)
5. Carefully plan your route
Since you will be using crutches in the meantime, you’ll have to plan an easier route to get to school.
Walk on surfaces that aren’t rough and avoid slippery areas. This will help to save time and guarantee your safety as you attend school regularly.
6. Have a sturdy backpack for your books
If your school gives students the liberty to carry their backpacks, ensure that you have a sturdy one that can be used to carry your books, medications, and other things you might need.
This will save you from the hassles of having to go back and forth to your locker to get the things you need.
However, if your school doesn’t allow the use of backpacks, seek permission from the management to allow you to use a backpack due to your current condition.
7. Sit at the end of the row
Apart from the fact that you should always have your seat in the last row, it is also advisable that you have your seat by the door.
This will enable you to easily go in and out of class without disturbing anyone.
Related: How to Treat Sore Hands from Crutches
8. Seek support from your friend(s)
The use of crutches might restrict you from some crucial activities like getting your meal from the school’s cafeteria or having your seat in the front row of a lecture hall if you’re in the university.
This is where your friends come into the picture. It’s the period you’ll identify your true friends.
So, if you have a couple of them in school, ask them to help grab you a lunch at the school’s cafeteria to save you the stress of having to wait in line with your crutches.
You can also ask your friend to keep a seat for you at the lecture hall since you might likely come a few minutes late to class because of your leg.
Alternatively, pack your lunch from home to enable you to have it at the right time.
In addition, you can get to the lecture hall a few minutes earlier if your friend(s) isn’t available to keep a seat for you.
But having a true friend who can support you in school will go a long way in relieving you of the stress that comes with schooling while using crutches.
9. Use the Elevator
Sometimes, walking up and down the stairs can be time-consuming and excruciating. That is why you should take the elevator more often if your school has one.
Using the elevator will help you reach your destination faster while saving you time in the process.
10. Try out other alternatives for your crutches
If you yearn for more independence and would like to be able to use your hands more, you can jettison the traditional crutches for a hand-free one.
However, your ability to use the hand-free crutch often depends on the nature of your injury and how well you’ve been able to effectively practice with the crutch.
