Updated Millennial Medical In Motion Pro Review
Video version coming soon to Youtube!
Hi everyone! A few years ago, I made a video reviewing four brands of forearm crutches I've used, including the In Motion Pros by Millennial Medical. They were the first crutches that I used long term, for about five years, and I loved those crutches- they changed my life and will always hold a special place in my heart. They are also affordable, comfortable, and reliable, and the crutches I still recommend most to other people. If you haven't seen the original review, go to www.disabledinthewild.com/blog/forearm-crutch-reviews.
I recently received an email from one of the owners of Millennial Medical, a new owner as of 2020, saying they had seen my review and my website, and loved what I had shared. He told me they’ve made updates to the In Motion Pros and would love my feedback on the newer version. So, they sent me the updated version so I could try them out and give them my thoughts. I wanted to share the updated review with all of you too!
Aside from the free crutches, I'm not getting paid for this review and I'm under no obligation to give positive or specific feedback. I used these crutches for about a month from August to September, and tried them out on a few different outdoor adventures on various terrain, including rocky riverbeds, in the river on slick algae-covered rocks, on steep hillsides, and through sagebrush-filled high desert plains. I also used them in my grass and dirt-covered backyard, as well as on a couple of hard surfaces of indoor locations like grocery stores and medical facilities. I wanted to make sure I gave them a good, solid try before giving my review.
(Note: In Motion Pros come with either spring assist or rigid posts. I received both in order to review them!)
First impressions
When I first received the crutches, I was actually quite relieved to see they are mostly the same as the old version and still the same great quality. In this day and age, it's not uncommon for companies to try to cut corners to reduce costs to increase profit, and I was so afraid that would happen here. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case at all. I was also impressed that the price is about the same as it was when I bought the older version in 2017- about $140, which is amazing considering how everything else has shot up in price, including some other crutch brands that have just gotten so over-the-top ridiculously expensive. Affordability is obviously important when it comes to medical devices, so I was really happy to see these crutches come with the same relatively affordable price tag for the same great quality.
Features and Options
When you buy the In Motion Pros, you can get the short crutches or the tall version depending on your height, and you can also choose to get either the spring assist poles or the rigid posts, depending on your preference. The crutches also come with closed cuffs, in both large and small sizes so you can wear whichever fits your forearm size better. Or, you can use both sizes like I do- large cuffs for bulky clothes in winter, small cuffs for bare arms in summer. The In Motion Pros also have ergonomic grips to reduce wrist pain, adjustable height in the forearm and in the leg, and articulating tips to increase stability and reduce uneven wear.
My thoughts
First, I’ll go over the features that are mostly the same as the previous version:
-I love the spring assist. It makes walking so much more comfortable when you're weight-bearing and on different types of terrain.
-The ergonomic grips are comfortable and help to reduce wrist pain and discomfort.
-I love the adjustability and the variety of options that are available: tall vs. short, large and small cuffs, adjustable height and forearm, plus spring assist vs. rigid posts. You can choose what to get based on your individual needs instead of one-crutch-fits-all, and customize without having to pay for custom crutches.
-The crutches come in two parts and can break down into smaller pieces for easier traveling in both cars and airplanes, and I can more easily have an extra pair of crutches tucked away somewhere just in case my other crutches fail. This has come in handy quite a bit.
-With In Motions Pros, each piece can be replaced and purchased separately on their website, so if you need to you can replace an individual piece instead of having to replace the entire pair of crutches. For example, my first In Motion Pros got a pebble stuck in the spring assist part of one crutch and I could not get it out. Instead of living with a nonfunctional spring or paying to replace both crutches for $140, I could just purchase new spring assist poles for $40. If the shoes get destroyed, it's $12 to replace them, or $30 to replace the grips. That, to me, adds to their affordability and longevity, and I think it's a huge selling point.
-My only actual complaint and dislike about these crutches is that they make a rattling and clacking sound on some hard floors indoors. I find myself feeling very self-conscious about the sound it makes and how loud they are on certain surfaces. I’m unsure but I think the rattling comes from the adjustable height clip and the clacking comes from the shoe. That would really be the only thing I would wish to change about these crutches.
Updates
Next I’ll talk about my thoughts on the updates they made, which I believe was mostly to the grips.
-The new grip is smaller in circumference than the previous version. They used to be quite thick for my small hands and I think the new size is much more comfortable, so I'm quite happy with that.
-The ergonomic shape of the grip is still very comfortable to hold. This shape is a lot better than on other crutches I have tried, and I have not had any issues with wrist pain or discomfort.
-The grip material is different than the old version, and, to be honest, I'm neutral on this change. The new grip material is definitely more similar to other crutches I've used compared to the previous model’s grip material. However, I actually kind of liked the rubbery quality and almost squishy feel to the old grips, because they were comfortable and provided better grip when my hands were wet or sweaty. The new material is perfectly fine though and still works great, so I like either one. They both work well.
-The only, very minor issue I have is with the angle of the grip. It seems to angle downward more severely than the old model and in comparison to other crutches. It's something I kept noticing as I started using these crutches and it may just be because it's different from what I'm used to. However, the important thing is that, while sensory-wise it feels a bit off to me, this grip angle does not cause any wrist pain or discomfort, even after using them for weight-bearing on rocky and slippery terrain all day, and that's really what matters. So this is more of a sensory preference or an observation than a real issue.
Summary
Overall, I love these crutches. They are comfortable, reliable, and affordable. I think the new version is as great as the previous model, with overall improvement to the grips. The new grip size is better and the grip material works as well as the old one. The ergonomic grips are comfortable and don’t cause wrist pain even after many hours of use. The spring assist helps a lot, especially when weight bearing. These crutches perform great in the outdoors and on different terrain. Plus, with the crutches being affordable, having the ability to replace parts and break down for easier traveling, and lots of options for users to choose from to make them a better fit for each individual's needs- I have so many great things to say about them! These will continue to be the crutches I recommend most to other disabled people.
In my last crutch reviews, some people commented that they'd like to have the option to buy a single crutch instead of having to purchase the pair, so I asked the owner of Millennial Medical if that option was available. He told me that they are looking into potentially adding that as an option in the future, but for now you can give them a call and they're willing to work with you on getting either a single crutch or, instead of the pair, getting two crutches of the same side. I imagine if they start getting lots of those requests, they'll be more likely to add that as an easy option to the website. So don't be afraid to call, these are super nice folks and they will listen to what their customers want.
Millennial Medical also has an ambassador program where you can help me give away free crutches to our fellow crutch users! For every four pairs of crutches purchased on their website using my code "wild", I earn a free pair of crutches that I then get to give away to someone who needs them! So be sure to use the code "wild" at checkout, and hopefully we can help folks get some free crutches.
That’s all I have to share. Feel free to leave your own feedback in the comments: what you love about these crutches, or any suggestions for improvement or preferences you have, and I can pass that info along to the Millennial Medical Owners.
Buy your crutches here!
https://millennialmedical.com/product/in-motion-pro-forearm-crutch/
Use the code “Wild” at checkout!
Read my other crutch reviews here: www.disabledinthewild.com/blog/forearm-crutch-reviews
