Walking on crutches?

daftthoughts
daftthoughts Posts: 88
in Fitness and Exercise
I started a new challenge for myself three days ago, and due to clumsiness seriously sprained my ankle last night. The doctor says I have to walk on a crutch for the next couple of days minimum, and can't exercise until the swelling is gone and I can walk without the crutch. He does encourage me to move as much as I can though, to help speed up the healing process.

My question is, would walking on a crutch be a valid exercise to log? It's taking a lot of energy out of me and I tire fast. Also seems to get my heart rate going!

I found this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/exercise/calories-burned/walking-using-crutches-203

So I know approximately how much I'm burning. I'm really bummed out that I'll be sitting still so much, so perhaps this can make up for a lack of walks I usually take.

What do you think? I'm tentatively logging it for now.

Replies

  • Senneth12
    Senneth12 Posts: 72
    If you usually log walks, and you are using crutches for a comparable amount of time, it would make sense.

    In my experience, using crutches burns a few more calories than walking normally until my body adjusts, and then it's back to normal. But I've had quite a few six month stretches, so that may be different.

    If I were you, I wouldn't push walking distances on crutches too fast. It takes time for your skin to adjust to the friction from the crutches, and if you start long distances too fast you'll end up raw (not directly under your arms, the crutches shouldn't touch your underarm, the skin on your sides about an inch farther down).

    Good luck rehabbing your sprained ankle! Don't overdo it, and if the doctor recommends physical therapy, you should go. Ankle sprains are finicky, and if you don't rehab them right they can turn into a long term problem.
  • thepiratemd
    thepiratemd Posts: 65
    seriously, as others said, first crutches can cause skin irritation and bruising.

    Second, I've seen this, if people put the crutches way up in their armpits and put a lotta pressure on them, you can get nerve impingement and problems there.

    Crutches aren't really an excuse to go walking around a ton and exercising, tbh. you just increase your risk of falling or getting hurt again.

    Rest that ankle!

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