Using Your Crutches

How to tell if your crutches fit right:

• When standing up the tip of your crutches should be 15cm (6 inches) away from the outside of your foot.
• Hold your arm straight down beside your crutch (at your side) to check the level of the crutch's handgrip. The crutch's grip should be even with your wrist.
• About 2 fingers should be able to fit between your armpit and the top of the crutch.
• You need to check how your crutches fit each time you wear shoes that have different heel heights. You should wear shoes that have low heels, good support and fit well.

When you are standing with your crutches:

• Put the tip of your crutches about 15cm (6 inches) in front of your toes and a distance apart that feels good for you.
• Put your body weight on the handgrips by pushing down with your hands.
• Do not lean on the top of your crutches with your armpits because it can hurt the nerves in your armpits.
• Press the top of the crutches against the side of your chest (upper ribs) with your upper arms.

To stand up:

• Move toward the edge of your chair.
• Hold both crutches on the side that you hurt with your hand holding tightly onto the handgrips.
• Press down on the handgrips with one hand and press down on the seat or arm of the chair with  your other hand so you can push yourself up.
• Use a crutch on each side and check to make sure you are standing in a good position.

To sit down:

• When you want to sit down, stand with the back of your legs touching the edge of the chair.
• Put the crutches in the hand on the side where you are not hurt and hold the arm or the edge of the seat with your other hand then sit down.

How to walk with crutches and the different types of walking:

Non-weight bearing (you are not supposed to put weight on your hurt leg)

• Put the crutches and your hurt leg ahead at the same time.
• Your body weight should be on your hands holding onto the hand grip, then take a step with your leg that is not hurt.

Partial weight-bearing (you can put some weight on your hurt leg):

• Move your crutches and your hurt leg together.
• Put some of your body weight on your hands holding the hand grips and some on your hurt leg, then take a step with your leg that is not hurt.

Going upstairs using crutches:

• Stand with your feet and your crutches close to the bottom step.
• Push on the handgrips and take your weight on the crutches and your hurt leg (if allowed)
• Put your leg that is not hurt up on the first step. Straighten that leg and lift your crutches and hurt leg up on the same step.

Going downstairs with crutches:

• Stand with your toes close to the edge of the step
• Lower your crutches and your hurt leg onto the next step, taking weight on your hurt leg (if allowed) and at the same time bend your knee on your leg that is not hurt.
• Push on the hand grips and put your weight on your crutches (and your hurt leg if allowed) at the same time that you lower your leg that is not hurt onto the step.
• If you are not comfortable about going up or down stairs with crutches, you can sit on the stair and boost yourself up or down.

Watch out for:

• Putting the tips of your crutches too close to the edge of the step.
• Wet days the rubber tips will be slippery when you go inside. Dry them off.
• Rugs, legs of tables and chairs, edges of carpets.
• Ice. You can get special tips for walking on ice.