How To Use Crutches

Crutches are a mobility aid. They’re a tool that helps you move. It’s common to need them while you recover after an injury or surgery. Crutches help you stand, walk and move without putting your full weight on your recovering leg, knee or ankle.

Your healthcare provider will tell you which kind of crutches you need and for how long. They’ll also show you how to use crutches safely.

Types of crutches

There are a few types of crutches you might need:

• Underarm (axillary) crutches: These are the most common type of crutch. They have a padded top that fits under your arm below your armpit, a straight frame and a handgrip.
• Forearm crutches: You might see these called elbow or Lofstrand crutches. They have a supportive cuff that fits around the back of your upper arm, just above your elbow, and a handgrip. They’re usually shorter than underarm crutches.
• Gutter crutches: Gutter crutches are less common than the other types. They have a padded pocket on top of a straight pole. You rest your forearms in the pocket and hold onto the attached handgrip at the front of the gutter.

How much weight can I bear with crutches?

How much weight you can bear is how much pressure you can lean on your recovering leg, knee or ankle. Your provider, surgeon or physical therapist will tell you how much weight is safe to put on that side. They might use terms like:

• No weight bearing: You can’t put any weight on the part of your body that’s recovering.
• Toe touch for balance only: Only put your toe on the ground to stabilize yourself lightly and regain your balance. Don’t put any weight or pressure on it.
• Partial weight bearing or a certain percentage: Your provider will say you can use a certain percentage of your weight, like 50% or 80%. This isn’t usually a literal number of pounds or kilos. It’s more like a guide to help you understand how much you can use your leg. Picture how you would walk normally. Then mentally reduce some of that pressure until you’re matching the safe percentage.
• Weight bearing as tolerated: This means you can use your full weight as long as you don’t feel pain or have other symptoms. Don’t push beyond your limits unless your provider tells you it’s OK.

Adjusting crutches

Adjusting your crutches will make them more comfortable:

• Most crutches can be adjusted to make them longer or shorter. They probably have a sliding mechanism. Ask your healthcare provider or physical therapist for help adjusting your crutches before using them.
• Make sure your crutches are adjusted to your height. If you have underarm crutches, the top should hit two finger widths below your armpits. The handgrips should be near your hips.
• Always rest your weight on your arms using the handgrips. Don’t lean on the top of the crutches under your arms.

Standing

Follow these tips for standing up with crutches:

• Stand up straight with the crutches placed slightly in front of your body and slightly apart on either side.
• Don’t lean your weight on the underarm supports. Use the handgrips to support your weight.
• Leaning your weight on your armpits can make you less stable. It can also hurt your shoulders and the nerves and blood vessels under your arms. Supporting your weight with your shoulders will also make you get tired faster while using your crutches.

Sitting down

Sitting down is easier than lots of other movements with crutches. Make sure you don’t tip backward into the seat too quickly. Try to have slow, controlled motions. This can help you avoid slips or falls. Back up to the edge of your seat as closely as you can. You should be able to feel the edge of the seat against the back of your legs. Here are some other tips for sitting down safely:

• Balance on your strong leg and remove your crutches from under your arms.
• Hold both crutches in one hand. Reach backward with the other hand to support yourself on the seat.
• Slowly lower yourself into the seat.

Standing up from sitting

Getting up from a seated position is all about making sure you’re balanced. Don’t let your momentum move you farther than you want to. Follow these steps:

• Scoot forward so your butt is on the edge of your seat.
• Hold both crutches in the hand that’s opposite your recovering leg.
• Put one hand on a crutch handgrip and the other on your seat. Then, push yourself up to a standing position. Make sure to use your strong leg as much as possible.
• Remember your weight-bearing limit. Don’t put too much pressure on your recovering leg.
• Get your balance before you start to move away from your seat.

Walking

It’s important to walk safely with crutches. Your surgeon might tell you to start moving as soon as possible after surgery. They might give you more specific instructions than these. But in general, you should:

• Make sure you’re balanced before starting to move.
• Move both your crutches and your recovering leg forward at the same time.
• Push down with equal, even pressure on both handgrips. Then, step through with your other leg.
• Regain your balance before stepping again.

If you’re wearing a boot or cast, follow these steps the same way. Just don’t put more weight on your foot than your provider says you can.

Walking with one crutch

After some injuries or surgeries, your healthcare provider might say you only need one crutch. Here’s how to walk with one crutch safely:

• Hold your crutch on the side opposite your recovering leg.
• Step forward with your recovering leg and the crutch in your opposite hand at the same time.
• Use your crutch to support your weight as you move forward. Make sure not to put too much pressure on your recovering leg.
• Have your strong leg line up with your recovering leg.

Walking upstairs

Climbing stairs can be dangerous if you go too fast. Go slowly and regain your balance before moving on to the next step. Have someone help you if possible.

If the stairs have a handrail, use it to support yourself while you’re going up:

1. Stand a shoe length away from the bottom step.
2. Balance on your strong leg and hold the handrail for support.
3. Tuck your crutches under the arm that’s not holding the handrail.
4. Step up with your strong leg. Keep your recovering leg lifted and slightly behind you as you move up.
5. Regain your balance before moving again.

Follow these steps if your stairs don’t have a handrail:

1. Stand a shoe length away from the bottom step.
2. Use your crutches to help you step up with your strong leg.
3. Regain your balance. Then, put your crutches up on the step next to your strong leg.
4. Transfer all your weight into your crutches and strong leg. Then move your recovering leg up.

It’s OK if you’re not comfortable or don’t feel safe walking up stairs on your crutches. You can hop up on your butt:

1. Sit on the lowest step with your back to the stairs.
2. Hold your recovering leg out, away from the stairs.
3. Hold your crutches in the hand opposite your recovering leg.
4. Push off the ground with your strong leg and the hand that’s not holding your crutches.
5. Regain your balance and strength before pushing up to the next step.

Walking downstairs with crutches

Going downstairs can be harder than walking up. Especially if you’re still getting used to your crutches. Go slowly and make sure your strong leg is safely on the step below you before shifting your weight or moving down.

If the stairs have a handrail, use it to support yourself while you’re going down:

1. Stand at the top of the stairs and get your balance before you start moving.
2. Balance on your strong leg and hold the handrail for support.
3. Tuck your crutches under the arm that’s not holding the handrail.
4. Step down with your strong leg. Hold your recovering leg out in front of you as you move down.
5. Regain your balance before moving again.

To go down stairs that don’t have a handrail:

1. Stand at the top of the stairs. Balance on your strong leg.
2. Move both crutches to the next stair below you.
3. Step down with your recovering leg to meet your crutches. Put even pressure on the handgrips for support. Then, bring your strong leg down to meet your recovering leg.
4. Regain your balance before moving again.

You can scoot down stairs on your butt. It’s the opposite of how you hop up:

1. Sit on the top step facing the bottom of the stairs.
2. Hold your recovering leg out in front of you, away from the stairs.
3. Hold your crutches in the hand opposite your recovering leg.
4. Slide down one step using your strong leg and the hand that’s not holding your crutches to brace yourself.
5. Take a second to regain your balance and strength before repeating these steps.

Safety tips

Make sure your crutches are safe to use before you put weight on them. Remember these safety tips:

• Make sure your crutches have grooved rubber tips covering the bottom. The underarm support and handgrips should have comfortable padding.
• Check the bottom of your crutches for debris that could make you slip. Remove objects like stones or leaves after you use them outside.
• Be extra careful on wet surfaces. The tips of your crutches can be slippery when they’re wet.
• Make sure your home and workspace are free from clutter that could trip you or others.
• Use your crutches as long as your provider tells you to. Even if you feel like you’re recovering quickly. If you stop using them too soon, you might damage your surgery site or experience another injury.