crutch
Underarm mobility device
A crutch is a support that fits under the arm or around the forearm, used by someone who can't bear full weight on a leg: She was on crutches for six weeks after the accident.
Figuratively, a crutch is anything relied on for support, often with a suggestion of unhealthy dependence: Alcohol became a crutch for him.
The word can also describe a forked support or prop.
Recovery from injury/addiction
- healingRestoration of health
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- physicalOf body or matter
recuperation · mending · temporary · post-surgery · injury · orthopedic · cast · splint
Ambulatory person or aid
- caneStick for support
- wheelchairSeated conveyance for mobility-impaired
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
- gaitLocomotion pattern
hobble · shuffle · non-weight-bearing · injured · sprained · broken · fractured · ankle
State of needing support
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- habitSettled regular tendency
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
vulnerability · neediness · leaning · fallback · excuse · avoidance · enabler · unhealthy
Support or stage item
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
- mainstayPrimary source of support
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
- pillarUpright architectural support
underpinning · reinforcement · backup · fallback · standin · substitute · stopgap · makeshift
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- healingRestoration of health
- convalescencePost-illness healing phase
- therapyCurative mental treatment
physical · recuperation · mending · temporary · post-surgery · injury · orthopedic · cast · splint · brace
walker
Ambulatory person or aid
- caneStick for support
- wheelchairSeated conveyance for mobility-impaired
- limpLacking firmness or rigidity
gait · hobble · shuffle · non-weight-bearing · injured · sprained · broken · fractured · ankle · leg
reliance
State of needing support
insecurity · vulnerability · neediness · leaning · fallback · excuse · avoidance · enabler · unhealthy · psychological
prop
Support or stage item
- buttressArchitectural wall reinforcement
- mainstayPrimary source of support
- backboneVertebral column, or courage
pillar · underpinning · reinforcement · backup · fallback · standin · substitute · stopgap · makeshift · temporary
underarm
Hollow beneath shoulder
padded · rubber · tip · grip · adjustable · aluminum · wooden · pair · fitted · temporary
lean
Lacking fat; incline
without · throw away · discard · outgrow · shed · abandon · overcome · beyond · transcend · wean
- body aidsglasses, eyeglasses, contacts, contact lens, contact lenses
- mobility aidswheelchair, walker, cane, rollator, manual wheelchair
- remediesremedy, cure, medicine, treatment, medications
- orthopedicsorthopedic surgeon, orthopedic surgery, bone fracture, joint replacement, hip replacement
- healthcaredoctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital, clinic
- assistive deviceswheelchair, glasses, wheelchairs, eyeglasses, walkers
crutchhindrance
Barrier to progress
obstacle · impediment · obstruction · barrier · blockage
crutchself-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
independence · self-sufficiency · inner strength · autonomy · resilience
- crutch wordOverused verbal habit
- forearm crutchesMobility aids gripping below elbow
- underarm crutchesMobility aids braced at armpits