Smartcrutch Adjustable Forearm Crutches (Black/1 Pair) (5' - 5'7")

I decided to try the Smartcrutch in order to take weight off of my hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Smartcrutch was successful in providing me with far less hand pain compared to normal forearm crutches. I've been told by others that I stand up straighter when using my Smartcrutches. So far, I've been using them for eight days.I am experiencing more pain near where my collar bone meets my shoulder, however, specifically on my right side. I don't know if this is due to my scoliosis, arthritis/bursitis in my shoulder, the angle of the crutches, or everything combined. I find it necessary to keep the angle on its lowest setting. Sometimes, I can hear and feel my shoulder grinding inside, which isn't good. It's hard to know whether to use my old forearm crutches and deal with the hand pain or to use my Smartcrutches and have shoulder pain.Another drawback is that the plastic tips are much more slippery on dry, hard surfaces like tile floors and wooden ramps than crutches with rubber tips. My advice is to proceed very slowly and carefully with these crutches on hard surfaces to avoid falling. I don't know if rubber tips can be substituted for the plastic ones which pivot. The crutches do work well on pavement and carpeting, however.Bear in mind that Smartcrutches will put more pressure on your back and legs when standing still. This is probably because one is forced to stand straighter when using them. If you prefer better posture, you'll like the Smartcrutch.I've read from other reviewers that good forearm strength is needed to use Smartcrutches. If you're used to using forearm crutches, this shouldn't be an issue since you probably already have good forearm strength. Don't let that warning keep you from buying these.Basically, if you need less pressure put on your hands and you have good shoulders, along with a lot of carpeting in your home, the Smartcrutch should work fine for you. If you fall easily on hard surfaces or possess little back or leg strength, you may be better off using traditional forearm crutches.

Releases pressure from my hands and wrist.

Could have not asked for a better crutches, if you have to use crutches these are by far the most comfortable! People ask me all the time where did I get them.

I bought these off the smart crutch website. I'm a long term crutch user, I had custom made fetterman forearm crutches that were stolen. GRR. So I bought these hoping the choice of angles and padding would be an improvement and they would have been but....But, as has been stated, the cuffs are hard plastic, they don't adjust.But, this is a one size fits all cuff and grip arrangement. If you have a shorter forearm - you get to drill and cut and customize it yourself. And that option only gets you so much give.But, the hand grip is for someone with medium large or xl hands, Small handed people will find that the grip is too wide and too big around and long term use becomes painful due to over contact with the carpal tunnel.If you're short forearmed and small handed when you bend your elbow the hard cuff is too high and digs into the elbow joint. I'm a DIYer so I cut it down and melted it with a heat gun until I got an approximately useful shape and size.When I bought the crutches more than two years ago now, the company said they were working on a pediatric/ smaller cuff and grip set. I contacted them this year and they said, no, they hadn't done that and didn't expect to until 2016.If you have big hands, are average to longer boned and only need them for surgical recovery go for it. Long term users beware. Hard cuffs that don't adjust and the wrong grip size will hurt you. The grips are hard plastic with a minimal neoprene slip cover and getting any gel pad to better cushion you hand is tough to fit on it and only makes the grip wider.

I was ecstatic when I saw these and felt sure they were just what I needed. I had broken multiple bones in one of my feet and conventional crutches were killing me! Even though they are a remarkable concept, after multiple attempts trying to use them, I just couldn't. I attribute my problems to balance issues. Definitely can't knock them--go for it if you think they'll work for you...

My new Smartcrutches arrived earlier today. I've been using single (sometimes 2) forearm crutch for about a year (MS-related imbalance, mild weakness).I think I got a dud pair. Very noisy on the tile floor (think: step, CLUNK. step CLUNK) when trying them out (I use them for balance so I'm taking my weight with a little help when walking...so I have no idea what these would do on swing-through gait when non-weight bearing) and there was some hard projection on the left handle that started raising a blister on my left hand within 5 minutes. Now don't tell me to harden up, I garden regularly as well so my hands are pretty tough.Also, I tried adjusting the angle on the right crutch and the whole assembly fell off.Couldn't move the wingnut-linked pin to adjust the forearm extension. My T rex skinny forearms are still pretty loose in the cuff, but it doesn't bother me because my old crutches are like that anyway.The 2 stars are for the funky purple ones I got and the fact that they seemed to behave better when leaned against the wall.