Learning About How to Use Crutches

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Overview

Crutches can help you walk when you have an injured hip, leg, knee, ankle, or foot. Your doctor will tell you how much weight—if any—you can put on your leg.

Be sure your crutches fit you. When you stand up in your normal posture, there should be space for two or three fingers between the top of the crutch and your armpit. When you let your hands hang down, the hand grips should be at your wrists. When you put your hands on the hand grips, your elbows should be slightly bent.

To stay safe when using crutches:

  • Look straight ahead, not down at your feet.
  • Clear away small rugs, cords, or anything else that could cause you to trip, slip, or fall.
  • Be very careful around pets and small children. They can get in your path when you least expect it.
  • Be sure the rubber tips on your crutches are clean and in good condition to help prevent slipping.
  • Avoid slick conditions, such as wet floors and snowy or icy driveways. In bad weather, be extra careful on curbs and steps.

Walking without weight on the injured leg

  1. Keep the injured leg bent and off the ground.
  2. Set the crutches at arm's length in front of you.

    Don't lean forward to reach farther.

  3. Move your weak or injured leg forward, almost even with the crutches.
  4. Bend your elbows slightly.

    Press the padded top parts of the crutches against your sides, under your armpits.

  5. Push straight down on the handgrips as you bring your good leg up, so it is even with the weak or injured leg.

    Keep all the weight on your hands and not on your underarms.

  6. Repeat.

When you are confident using the crutches, you can move the crutches and your injured leg at the same time. Then push straight down on the crutches as you step past the crutches with your strong leg, as you would in normal walking.

Walking with weight on the injured leg

  1. Put both crutches about 12 inches in front of you.

    The crutches and your feet should form a triangle. Hold the crutches close enough to your body so you can push straight down on them, but leave room between the crutches for your body to pass through. Don't lean forward to reach farther.

  2. Put your weight on the handgrips, not on the pads under your arms.

    Constant pressure against your underarms can cause numbness.

  3. Move your weak or injured leg forward so it's almost even with the crutches.
  4. Bring your good leg up, so it's even with your weak or injured leg.
  5. Move your crutches about 12 inches in front of you, and start the next step.

When you're confident using the crutches, you can move the crutches and your injured leg at the same time. Then push straight down on the crutches as you step past the crutches with your strong leg, as you would in normal walking.

Sitting down and standing up from a chair

  1. To sit, back up to the chair.
    1. Use one hand to hold both crutches by the handgrips, beside your injured leg.
    2. With the other hand, hold onto the seat and slowly lower yourself onto the chair.
    3. Lay the crutches on the ground near your chair. If you prop them up, they may fall over.
  2. To get up from a chair, pick up the crutches and put them in one hand beside your injured leg.
    1. Put your weight on the handgrips of the crutches and on your strong leg to stand up.

Going up and down stairs

Try this first with another person nearby to steady you if needed. And remember "up with the good, down with the bad" to help you lead with the correct leg.

  1. If the stairs don't have a handrail, stand near the edge of the stairs.
    Person going up and down stairs using crutches.
    1. To go up, step up with your stronger leg. Then bring the crutches and your weak or injured leg to the upper step.
    2. To go down, put your crutches and your weak or injured leg on the lower step. Then bring your stronger leg down to the lower step.
  2. If the stairs have a sturdy handrail, stand near the edge of the stairs.
    1. Put both crutches under the arm opposite the handrail.
    2. Use the hand opposite the handrail to hold both crutches by the handgrips.
    3. Hold on to the handrail as you go up or down.
    4. To go up, step up with your stronger leg. Then bring the crutches and your weak or injured leg to the upper step.
    5. To go down,put your crutches and your weak or injured leg on the lower step. Then bring your stronger leg down to the lower step.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Where can you learn more?

Go to http://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter G273 in the search box to learn more about "Learning About How to Use Crutches".

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.