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The History of Thomas Fetterman's Crutches
I've been using crutches
since I had polio 47 years ago. As a user of crutches for all these years I
have become painfully aware of their design limitations.
Back in the early eighties, I developed shoulder pain that increased
with activity. To make matters worse I was slipping and falling down far too
often. My doctor said I had inflamed shoulder joints due to the constant
impact associated with crutch use. He said I should slow down and take
aspirin! Instead, I invented a patented crutch tip with a built-in shock
absorbing gel system. Slowly but surely my shoulder pain disappeared. And
I fall far less.
In 1988 I began manufacturing and selling my patented crutch tip
technology and have since sold over 70,000 pairs to satisfied customers.
In 1991 I met Woody Witte, owner of Enabling Technologies who design
the best outriggers, flipskis and crutches on the planet under the Superlite trademark.
Together we now offer Superlite Crutches accessorized with my patented Tornado or
Performance gel filled tips, Performance hand grips, Padded Leather Cuff Inserts and
Spats Door Guards in a full range of anodized colors. Superlite crutches are custom
made to fit your exact needs with no adjustment holes to work loose and rattle.
The White House purchased a pair for President Clinton selecting these crutches over all
the competition. When questioned about his snazzy black Superlites, President Clinton
replied, "I call them my 'Stealth' crutches...I think they were developed as an offshoot
of the B-2 technology. I like them quite a lot." Working together, using Enabling Technologies
crutch bodies and cuffs and my accessories we now hand build custom fitted high-style,
high-function forearm crutches.
Subsequently, I've joined with Ed Openshaw, expert wood craftsman, to
hand make custom fitted rosewood forearm and underarm crutches and with
N.M.S. of Canada to distribute their unique patented KLICK telescoping travel
crutch and cane. I have also discovered other helpful crutch accessories
like Advantage crutch bags and an ice traction system for crutch tips and
shoes and I'm always looking for more good stuff. |
