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If you’ve recently gotten injured and will have to start using crutches at school, you probably have some concerns. But don’t worry. Life on crutches will take a bit of getting used to, sure, but most schools are ready to handle these situations and students tend to be supportive.

To make the adjustment as smooth as possible, here are our top tips for using crutches at school.

1. Talk to Your School Nurse

A lot of schools offer some type of “early release pass” for students on crutches. This means you get to leave class five minutes early (woo hoo!) so you can navigate the halls to your next class before they get super crowded.

If your school

Recently, the World Health Organization released a warning that “a sedentary lifestyle could very well be among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world.” They claim that 2 million deaths every year are attributed to physical inactivity, making it one of the biggest public health issues of our time.

This issue is especially relevant for the elderly. But no one goes into “old age” planning to be inactive. So what causes it?

1. Avoiding Discomfort

As you age, you may experience more muscle and joint aches. This leads to a viscous cycle. Because it hurts more to exercise, people exercise less, making it hurt that much more when they do exercise. The only way to break the cycle is to bite the bullet and exercise. The good news is, once they start most people report a decrease in joint pain within weeks.

2. Convenience

Everything from cars to the internet has made our

Using crutches incorrectly can be a painful experience. Either you fall on your face or, if you have them adjusted wrong, you injure everything from your hands and arms to your back and neck. Here are some of the most common crutch mistakes we recommend avoiding.

1. Not Properly Adjusting Your Crutches

If you stand normally wearing your regular shoes, your crutches should go from a point on the floor two inches in front of your toes to an inch or two below your armpit. The handgrips should allow a 15 degree bend in your elbow when standing. If you find your underarms are still getting sore, you can also buy a gel crutch pad.

2. Walking Like You’re Not on Crutches

Crutches change the way

The word 'summer' conjures up classic images of beaches, tank tops, and lemonade stands. One thing we often forget about, or at least deliberately ignore, is the heavy, oppressive, suffocating heat and humidity that go right along with those happy thoughts.

That heat can often be enough to keep people inside, and those of us reliant on some sort of mobility product are more susceptible to heat related illness than most. But by following these few simple guidelines, anyone can beat the heat and look forward some safe summertime fun.

1. Always, always, always carry a water bottle. Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to stay safe and healthy in the summer, and having your own supply of water makes it easy. Clip a sturdy cup holder onto your walker to provide yourself with a handy way to carry your water bottle without taking up any

Last week we discussed the use of an attachable walker flashlight to improve safety and to lower the risk of falls to those with mobility impairments. The attachable light is a big step, but did you know many of the falls that happen every day are preventable? Follow this list of simple precautions, and you are sure to find yourself moving freely and without worry:

1. Exercise regularly and keep your body healthy
2. Having your eyes checked
3. Review your medications with your physician
4. Make your home safer by installing threshold ramps
5. Pick up dropped items to keep your floors clear
6. Wear shoes with non-slip soles
7. Use non-slip rugs
8. Install grab bars and non-slip mats in bathrooms
9. Wipe up spills immediately
10. Never rush up or down stairs, especially when using a cane
11. Keep stairs in good repair
12. Always use handrails
13. Keep electrical cords out of the