🩼
Crutch
krʌtʃ
Definitions
1
Medical · Mobility
Common
A mobility aid used for support when walking with an injury or disability, typically depicted as an underarm crutch with a horizontal grip.
Used to indicate injury, recovery, temporary disability, or need for mobility assistance.
Just got out of surgery, I'll be on 🩼 for the next 6 weeks.
Personal message
Twisted my ankle playing soccer yesterday 🩼 No practice for me this week!
Group chat
Often symbolizes resilience and the process of healing or rehabilitation after injury.
2
Metaphorical · Support
Uncommon
Used metaphorically to represent emotional or psychological support during difficult times.
Less common than literal usage; typically appears in supportive messages or discussions about overcoming challenges.
Your friendship has been my 🩼 through this difficult time.
Personal message
Represents the concept of needing assistance through challenging periods, often temporary in nature.
Evolution Timeline
2020
Added to Unicode 13.0 as part of increased representation of accessibility and medical devices.
Growing awareness of disability representation in digital communication
Cultural Context
The crutch emoji represents the temporary nature of many injuries and the human capacity for healing and recovery.
Added as part of efforts to increase representation of disability and medical aids in digital communication.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
May be referred to as 'crutches' even when singular, and is sometimes associated with National Health Service (NHS) care.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used practically to communicate about injuries or medical situations to family and colleagues.
Gen_Z: Used matter-of-factly in injury stories, often with humor about accidents or sports injuries.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in straightforward communication about medical conditions or mobility needs.
Millennials: Commonly used when sharing injury updates with friends and family or requesting workplace accommodations.
Common Combinations
🩼🦵
Leg injury requiring crutch support
Commonly used to indicate a leg or foot injury that requires temporary mobility assistance
🏥🩼
Hospital visit resulting in crutches
Indicates medical treatment for an injury requiring mobility assistance
🩼➡️🏃
Recovery journey from injury to full mobility
Represents progress in rehabilitation, moving from needing support to regaining independence