PWB finally
just got the OK from my doc to go pwb with two crutches for a week then one crutch, then no crutches.( all with the boot on)..any good advice out there??
just got the OK from my doc to go pwb with two crutches for a week then one crutch, then no crutches.( all with the boot on)..any good advice out there??
December 1st, 2014 at 4:43 pm
hello,
i am PWB since 2 weeks now (with two crutches) in a fiberglass cast. Take it easy, put enough weight to feel something but not too much - the right balance… and do not insist if you feel tired. I have found so far that resting was quite beneficial as well during this period.
If you think it’s too easy, excellent, but do not be overconfident too early.
I have found out also that being standed and doing some light “ski boot flexion” (if you see what i mean) was some super beneficial stretching.
take care!
December 1st, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Rolling your boot forward to the toe while standing (”ski boot” style) will also get you more used to the move you’ll use when you walk on it. The boot should transfer your weight (PW at first) to the front of your shin. You’ve got to trust it to do that in order to walk “normally” in the boot.
My (other) advice is NOT to insist on spending quality time on one crutch. You can do the whole PWB transition on 2 crutches, without ever learning how to use 1 crutch without feeling like a lopsided silly goose. (I never mastered it, and that’s fine with me!)
December 3rd, 2014 at 1:08 pm
I can only echo what Norm said, the que for me to really learn walking in the boot with a “normal” stride was thinking about pushing my shin forward against the top of the boot to drive the roll from heel to toe. I moved from NWB directly to no crutches in about an hour, so no experience of transition as such, but as Norm said I would think that using two crutches would be easier throughout the transition to maintain a normal even balance (rather than one crutch), and I think it would be easier to control the weight you’re putting on the foot as well.
December 3rd, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Thanks for the info. Do you have another question. I change the setting on my boot so that I can ride a bike without putting to much pressure on my calf, has anyone else done the same?