Crutch walking

This leaflet will provide information to safely use your crutches

Crutches are used to help you walk or improve your balance after injury or surgery to your foot, knee, hip or leg. You will have been fitted with your new crutches and shown the proper way to use them. One important point to remember when using the underarm crutches is to put your weight through your arms and hands and not rest on your armpits. This could squeeze the nerves that supply your arms and cause tingling in your hands.

 

Proper positioning:

The top of your crutches should be about 1-1.5 inches below your armpits when you stand up straight.

The handles should be about even with your hip line.

Your elbows should be bent a bit when you use the handles

Squeeze the tops of the crutches against your side and press down on the handles

Use your crutches on firm ground and make sure the tips of your crutches are not split or loose

 

General guidelines:

• Remove scatter rugs, electrical cords, spills or anything else that may cause you to fall
• Simplify your house to keep the items you need handy and everything else out of the way
• Try using a backpack or apron to help you carry things around
• Wear sturdy shoes with non-slip soles that fit well. Avoid going barefoot, or wearing flip flops, loose slippers, and high heels

 

Take care with:

• Ice, snow or slippery surface
• Wet or waxed floor
• Walking around pets or children

 

Walking:

Lean forward slightly and put your crutches ahead of you. Place your injured leg/foot between the crutches, take the weight through the crutches and step through with your good leg.

 

Sitting down/standing up:

Back up to a sturdy chair. Rest your injured leg/foot in front of the other leg and hold the crutches in one hand. Use the free hand to put on the chair arm or seat. Lower to sit fully on the chair.

Turn the crutches upside-down to rest them (less likely to fall over)

To stand up shuffle to the front of the chair, push up on the chair and crutches, and stand up on the good leg.

Going Up Stairs:

1. Face the stairs. Place both crutches in one hand and your other hand on the hand railing.

2. Place your weight on both hands and lift your stronger leg up to the next step.

3. Move crutches and your weaker leg up to the same step. Move your hand up the railing.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you are at the top of the stairs.

 

Going Down Stairs:

1. Stand with the toes of your uninjured leg close to the edge of the step.

2. Place both crutches in one hand and your other hand on the railing.

3. Move the crutches and weaker leg down to the same step.

4. Bring your stronger leg down to the same step. Move your hand down the hand railing.

5. Repeat steps 3-4 until you are at the bottom of the stairs.