Often when you get a cast put on your leg or foot you will be required to use crutches for a period of time. Crutches are one way to keep weight off of your foot or ankle, but you need to use them properly. When using crutches, put your weight on your arms and hands. You want to get used to the weight of the walking boot and moving your foot in a normal walking motion again. Put both crutches under the arm away from the railing (or hold as in the diagram below) and use both crutches as one. Foot and Ankle. Place the top of the crutches under your arms. DO NOT step forward on your weak leg. Your shoulders should lean forward slightly while using the crutches. There are some things that you should also keep in mind. Cushioned covers or pads for the underarm and handgrip areas may be purchased. Learn More. While going downstairs, place the crutches on the next step below, then step down with the good leg. Use your crutches only as instructed. If a patient has never used a crutch, they should not do so without instructions and ideally, to be safe, a trained assistant. Look ahead to where you are walking and don't look at your feet. healthy living centerTopic Guide. Lean on the handles of your crutches and move your body forward. To begin walking with crutches, gradually shift your weight to your healthy leg. The support also should assist upright movement and transmit sensory cues through the hands. It actually takes some instruction, a bit of coordination and then practice. Wrap your thumbs around the handgrips and put your good foot firmly on the ground. Move your foot in a normal walking motion without putting weight on it at first while using crutches to support your full weight. ©2018 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. Strutter crutch: This crutch is a type of underarm crutch that has larger crutch tips that remain flat on the floor. Forearm crutch (also known as the Lofstrand crutch, or elbow crutch): This crutch should allow you to flex your elbow 15°-30°. Axillary crutch: This is the most common type. If you are unable to stand, simply subtract 16 inches from your height to determine the crutch length you need. You may struggle with how to make crutches more comfortable. Underarm crutches, forearm crutches, and leg scooters can help you get around but don’t offer full use of your arms. Making Sure the Crutches Fit 1. University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. Nyland, J., T. Bernasek, B. Markee, and C. Dundore. Move the crutch and your weaker leg forward at the same time. Ⓒ 2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. The crutch becomes a temporary prosthetic lower leg. The cuff on the crutch should sit 2.5 cm-4 cm (1 in-1.5 in) below the back of the elbow. Keep the crutches close to your body. Stairs can be particularly tricky when using crutches because it requires a lot of upper body strength. When you first get your crutches, ask a friend or family member to remove loose items on the floor such as rugs, electrical cords, toys or anything else that you could trip over. Taking one step at a time, hold your injured foot out in front of you and hop down each stair on your good foot using the crutches or handrails as above. Walking with the Crutches Try to make forward movement and placing of the tip at about 1’ ahead of the feet. Fitting your crutches is the first step to using them comfortably and safely. Walk at a safe, comfortable pace. Put the ends 12 to 20 cm (5 to 8 inches) to the side of your feet. It’s also essential you know where to get crutches to replace the old ones. Start by standing. When you are going up, lead with your good foot, keeping your injured foot raised behind you. Facing the stairway, hold the handrail with one hand and tuck both crutches under your armpit on the other side. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Properly Position and Size Your Crutches for Safe Walking, How to Negotiate Stairs After an Injury or Surgery, Prevent Injuries by Learning How to Use Your Walker Safely, Choosing and Using Walkers in Physical Therapy, Anterior Tibialis Rupture: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Management, Stretches to Ease and Prevent Shin Splints. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. How to walk with crutches: Place both crutches under your arms, and place your hands on the hand grips of the crutches. Platform crutch: Also known as a triceps crutch, this crutch should contact roughly 5 cm (2 in) below the skinfold of the armpit. This could hurt the nerves in your underarms. While walking, do not try to move too quickly or to cover too long a distance with each step. To begin walking with crutches, gradually shift your weight to your healthy leg. Crutches are made in all sizes, for adults and children. Stand on your uninjured leg, with your injured leg slightly bent and raised off the floor. A crutch becomes necessary when a person cannot walk or walks with extreme difficulty. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hold the handgrips for support. To walk up and down stairs with crutches, you need to be both strong and flexible. Wear comfortable shoes that fit well and support your feet. Studies have shown that your wrist receives from one to more than three times your body weight during the swing phase of walking with crutches -- a load the upper body was not designed to sustain. Be careful when walking on uneven or wet surfaces. Squeeze the crutch pads against the sides of your chest. Place only the amount of weight through your surgical/injured leg as specified by the physician. Treatment for a broken bone in the foot depends on which bone is broken and how it is broken. Orthop Nurs. Some broken bones in the foot can be treated with crutches and flat-bottom shoes, others require splints or casts or boots, and still others require surgery to repair the bones. Your hand should rest at a level that allows you to flex your elbow at about 30°. Put as much weight as you are allowed on the injured leg, taking the rest of the weight through your arms and hands. What Are the Different Types of Crutches? Now, be extremely patient and move the crutches in front of you, but make sure it’s not too far to maintain good body stability. In fact, you will want to ask someone to "spot" you the first time you try this. Place your crutches slightly in front of you. The increased flexion allows your arm to bear greater weight. Leg support crutches are particularly useful for below the knee injuries or postoperatively after below-the-knee surgery that affects one leg only. Tap to unmute. Forearm crutches or less popularly known as Lofstrand crutch and elbow crutch. Use the Crutches to Walk You have to remember that the crutches are there to help you and keep your weight off your injured leg. Stand straight. Place one crutch under each arm and grip the crutch handles. Take note of how the crutches feel and make adjustments as needed. Shift your weight to the crutches and sway forward with your hips. Hold the railing with your free hand and stand close to the rail. Kottke FJ, Lehmann JF. How to Use Crutches, Canes, and Walkers. Tips for Walking with Crutches. The top of your crutches should be about one to two inches below your armpits when you are standing upright. Crutches may also be used by amputees, and people with other disabilities that make walking difficult. Be sure not to rest your armpits on the pads of the crutches. The tip “travel light” is never truer than when you end up walking with crutches. "Comparison of the Easy Strutter Functional Orthosis System and axillary crutches during modified 3-point gait." The first thing that you will want to do is ask your doctor, therapist or casting professional to fit your crutches and provide you with one-on-one instruction. Carry items in a backpack. Is Walking Good for Arthritis in the Knee? While you're getting around via clutches, carry a backpack or sling-type messenger bag so you have a place to put things that are easy to reach and out of the way. Support all your weight on your hands, not under your arms. Your doctor should adjust your crutches to fit you and show you how to use them. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Move your crutches in front of you about 12 inches. To avoid falling, use your crutches only on firm ground. Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Using crutches isn't as easy as it appears. Regaining upright body movement aids circulation, assists kidney and lung functions, and helps prevent calcium loss from your bones. Lean forward slightly and move both crutches about one foot in front of you. However, ambulatory aids like the iWALK2.0 allow for hands-free mobility so you can get around easier. Do not press the top of your crutches into your armpits and keep your weight on your hands only. Do not hang or lean on your crutches. Then move the crutches forward to repeat the movement. While using them on the stairs, have someone assist you. You must have sufficient arm strength, balance, and coordination to use them effectively. Support device use dates back to 2830 BC. Pictures of the 7 Riskiest Workout Moves, and How to Improve Them, Proper crutch placement for maximum stationary stability, Proper position following swing through during walking, Learn more about treatment of a fractured foot. Support your weight using the handgrips of the crutches. Three-Point Crutch Gait. Put everything else out of the way. While standing, place the crutches 8 in-10 in front of you. The problem is, your hands are needed to hold on to the crutches making carrying quite difficult. How to Use Crutches 1/4 . For instance, your crutches take up more room on the sides and can easily get caught on things, so keep a wide area around you. The crutches are the correct length if there is a 2 to 3 finger space between the top of the crutch … Lean forward slightly and move both crutches about one foot in front of you. Sit to Stand and Walking with Crutches. J Rehabil Res Dev 41.2 Mar. Ensure that the top of your crutches is about a couple of fingers side-by-side below your armpits. While going upstairs, step up with the good leg first, then bring the crutches up. To do this, move to the front edge of the chair. Crutch design has evolved from the basic "T" used by Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol to lightweight aluminum braces with ice-gripping tips or energy-storing tips that function as shock absorbers and are slip resistant. When you walk using crutches, you will move your crutches forward ahead of your weak leg. This video shows you how to use different gaits with your crutches, depending on whether you can put weight on the injured leg or foot. Click below and just hit send! The top of the crutches should be about 2 fingers side-by-side (about 1½ inches) below your armpits. Handbook of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Move the crutches in front of you to a point at which you can maintain stability. For the swing movement, shift your weight from your healthy leg to your arms, swinging your body through the crutches as the crutches take up the weight. Shopping. Sep-Oct 1990;9(5):31-8. Wooden or aluminum models can be adjusted easily to your overall height and hand height. Also, ask for someone to simplify your household to keep the items you need handy. On stairs without a railing: follow the instructions for going up and down stairs, except leave one crutch under each arm (as for walking). If you are unable to bear weight on one leg, you may benefit most from using the three-point... Two-Point Crutch Gait. Swing your good leg forward between the crutches and place it in front of you on the ground. 3. The crutch should contact the floor 5 cm-10 cm (2 in-4 in) outside and 15 cm (6 in) in front of your foot. Put your weight on your good leg, push yourself up with your arms and stand on the good leg. A crutch must do two things: reduce weight load on one of your legs and broaden your support base to improve your balance and stability. How to Use Crutches . This makes careful planning a crucial part of … You will need your clutches to help lift you from your chair. Home Remedies for Fractured Foot Bones. How to Walk Safely With Crutches Four-Point Crutch Gait. . 2004: 195-206. Crutch comfort can become an issue, as your body acclimates to their use. If using just one crutch, techniques for walking start with placing the crutch under the arm opposite your weaker leg. home Push down on the stair rail and the crutch and step up with the "good" leg. Next, you will want to double check the fit with these points: Crutches add extra difficulty to your life. Up stairs. Do not put your weight on your underarms (armpits). See Additional Information. In addition, consider these tips on crutch form to prevent other injuries from occurring: Don't forget just standing up. Things that you were able to walk over, are now hazards. If this is too difficult, try sitting on the stairs and inch yourself down each step. For the swing movement, shift your weight from your healthy leg to your arms, swinging your body through the crutches as the crutches take up the weight. It's important to remember which leg goes first when walking with crutches weight-bearing. Walking down stairs while on crutches is one of the most challenging and dangerous areas of mastering the use of crutches. Start by standing. Walking with crutches. Hold your crutches from the handgrips with your crutches placed slightly in front of your body. The iWALK2.0 has a number of benefits. Avoid trolleys and, instead, use a backpack. 4th ed. Read our, Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, DPT, OCS, Medically reviewed by Jonathan Cluett, MD, Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD, Medically reviewed by Laura Campedelli, PT, DPT, ONOKY - Eric Herchaft/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images, 5 Hip-Strengthening Exercises for Runners. Keep most of your weight on your hands rather than on your armpits. Move the crutches in front of you to a point at which you can maintain stability. . In the stationary position, the top of the crutch should extend from a point the width of two to three fingers below the armpit (axilla) to a point on the floor 15 cm-20 cm (6 in-8 in) outside your foot. The lower cuff should lie 1 cm-4 cm (0.5 in-1.5 in) below the back of the elbow to avoid bony contact on the arm yet provide stability. Don't let your armpits rest on the top of the crutches; this can irritate the skin in your armpits. They are essentially a way to extend your arms’ reach to the ground assisting you with walking. If your crutch gets damaged, discard it and replace it with a new crutch. Since antiquity humans have fashioned support devices to hold themselves up when they became sick or injured. Additionally, position the crutch about 3 to 4 inches away from the mid-point of the outside of your foot for the best stability. REMEMBER: Do not lean on the underarm supports. Be patient and deliberate while learning. For lower-limb injuries such as a broken leg, broken ankle, sprained ankle, knee injuries, and other injuries, as well as after surgery on the leg, knee, ankle, or foot, crutches remain useful today to decrease discomfort, reduce recovery time, and assist walking. Shift your weight to your good leg and start your next step by moving the crutches about one foot in front of you. Keep the knee of your injured leg bent when walking. Move the crutches forward. Your weight should be placed through your hands by … Hold both crutches in the hand on your injured side, and then with your free hand, hold the arm of the chair that you are sitting in. Lane PL, LeBlanc R. Crutch walking. Provide your body weights on the handgrip and take a step forward along with your injured leg. Push the crutches one small step ahead of you and then swing your good leg forward. "Walking With One Crutch." Don't be embarrassed to do this. This ensures that no pressure is placed on the injured ankle. Use the crutches for support. Because those items have a way of finding their way back to the floor—especially toys. Maintain good posture when walking. Find your balance. "How to Use Crutches, Canes, and Walkers." Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. Your elbows should bend a bit when you use the hand grips. Follow your doctor's weight-bearing instructions by only putting the amount of weight ordered by your doctor onto your leg. Plant your healthy leg at a point ahead, again maintaining stability, and shift your weight back to the leg. . Then swing your body in the front direction and place the other leg on the ground to complete a one-step walking. Some forearm crutches are ergonomic, designed for more comfort and reduced chance of injury. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1990. Crutches do the job they are made for very well. A crutch allows people with paralysis or other disabilities the benefits of upright. If you're unfortunate enough to have a lower limb injury or fracture that requires you to use crutches during your recovery, these tips may help you use your crutches safely, and with confidence. This allows for improved weight distribution and more even walking gait. Move your injured leg forward and put your foot even with the crutches. Leg support crutches: These are like a knee scooter where the affected leg is strapped into a support frame on wheels. … There are several basic types of crutches: axillary (underarm), forearm (Lofstrand), platform, strutter, and leg support. Keep the top of the crutches tightly against your sides and use your hands to absorb the weight. Use your crutches for all walking and standing activities until your physician instructs you otherwise. And then watch out! Many of these types of crutches can also be found in a folding variety, where the crutches are designed to fold in half, making them easier to store. To walk with one crutch, place it under the arm opposite your injured leg. Check the bottom of the crutches and remove gravel from the grooves after you have walked outside. Tips include the following: Start in a balanced standing (tripod) position. As you walk, move the crutch about 12 inches forward at the same time as you step forward with your injured leg. Generally, people use a swinging gait, where the crutches are advanced and stabilized then the. Now, unto starting to walk with crutches, make sure the weight of your body is resting on the fit leg (the healthy leg). How to Walk on Crutches. When walking using crutches it is important that they fit properly and that you use them correctly. Crutches shift the force of upright movement from your legs to your upper body. Crutches are used to help the injured person walk when the foot is broken. The hand grips of the crutches should be even with your hip. A carving on the entrance of an Egyptian tomb depicts a figure leaning on a crutch-like staff. Then take a step with your stronger leg. Walking with crutches takes some practice, but it’s not difficult. Your recovery may require that you keep weight off of your foot or ankle, or you may be asked to only put partial weight on the limb. Because you retain the use of both your hands, it gives you a lot more freedom. Place your crutches about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in front of you, slightly wider apart than your body. Forearm Crutches. People who use it can go to work, look after the kids, walk the dog, go grocery shopping, even do workouts at the gym. To take a step, squeeze the crutches between your upper arms and ribs put the weight through your hands not your armpits. 2. Along with walking, you will also get to know how the crutches will support and assist you to sit. Use these tips to make it a bit easier, which will also happen with practice. Hold the injured (or weaker) foot off the floor. Here are two videos to help. This type of crutch is common in Europe, however in the U.S. generally only people with lifelong disabilities such as. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Keep your crutches slightly out to each side as you prepare to take your first step. You're signed out. Be careful when walking on wet or slippery surfaces. Lengthening your appendages and basically learning how to walk with your arms is an exercise in coordination. This applies to your daily bag or purse. Step 4: Bring a Backpack. Info. February 2015. Ashley Hall is a writer and fact checker who has been published in multiple medical journals in the field of surgery. Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. If both crutches can be held in 1 hand safely, you can use both crutches on 1 side and the railing on the other. This instructional video shows how to correctly walk, sit, stand and go up and down stairs with crutches while putting partial weight on the injured leg. Sometimes with all the walking, your crutches can break down. Never support yourself on your armpits. Before you begin using crutches, your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist will show you how to adjust the crutches so they are the right height for you. Hold onto the rail with 1 hand and the crutch with the other hand. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All should be custom fitted properly to help reduce movement problems. Walk close to the first stair and hold onto the stair rail.