Hobbling

Hobbling is the act of injuring someone via damage to the legs, knees, ankles, or feet, creating a permanent injury that prevents them from walking. One of the most infamous examples of hobbling in speculative fiction is in the 1987 novel Misery by author Stephen King and its 1990 film adaptation, Misery, by director Rob Reiner. In the film, oogie psycho-bird Annie Wilkes takes umbrage with her "house guest" Paul Sheldon, who is already crippled due to a car accident. To punish him for a perceived slight, she places a wooden block between his legs, then smashes his ankle over with a sledgehammer. In the book, Paul lost a foot and had to use a prosthetic limb. In the movie, he partially healed from his injuries, but walked with a cane.

Films

 * Misery - Annie Wilkes hobbles Paul Sheldon.

Novels

 * Misery - Annie Wilkes hobbles Paul Sheldon.