It's a fine balance

Something I have never seen in the UK is a pole walker. This is someone who usually has use of only one leg, who manages to move using a stout pole as a crutch. It requires great upper body strength - and good balance!

Sometimes a pole walker will want to try elbow crutches (ECs), convinced that they will be easier. The result can be very surprising! Using elbow crutches full weight bearing (FWB) or partial weight bearing (PWB)is one thing, but using ECs when you're effectively non-weightbearing (NWB) - ie hopping on the good leg - is very much harder than it looks! It requires quite a different way of balancing. Many people in this country over the age of 60 simply cannot use ECs if they're NWB - they'd be much happier with a zimmer frame. Similarly a pole walker in Africa may be a lot safer with what they know best!