Basic Guide For Crutches

• Canes & Crutches
• How to Hold Axillary Crutches
• Forearm Crutches Adjustment
• How to Hold Forearm Crutches
• How to Walk with Crutches: No Weight Through the Affected Leg
• How to Walk with Crutches: Partial Weight Through the Affected Leg
• Going Up Stairs
• Going Down Stairs
• How to Do Stairs with a Railing

Crutches help to take weight off one leg (completely or partially). The two most common types of crutches are: Axillary Crutches and Forearm Crutches.

Squeeze the top of the crutches between the arms and the rib cage while pressing down on the handles. Body weight should be taken through the hands, not through the armpits.

When standing tall with arms at your side, adjust the crutch height so that the handles are level with the wrists. While holding the handles, adjust the cuffs to a comfortable position just below the elbows.

With the handles facing forward, slide your forearms into the cuffs and grasp the handles.

• Place the crutches one step length forward.
• Support body weight through the arms and swing the sound leg forward (one step length past the crutches).
• Repeat the pattern.

• Place the crutches and affected leg one step length forward.
• Support body weight through the arms and partially through the affected leg, then bring the sound leg forward by one step length.
• Repeat the pattern.

• Place the sound leg up one step.
• Bring the crutches and affected leg up onto the same step as the sound leg.
• Repeat the pattern.

"Up with the good"

• Place the crutches and affected leg down one step.
• Bring the sound leg down onto the same step.
• Repeat the pattern.

"Down with the bad"

Use the same pattern as with two crutches. The crutch that is not being used can be carried: at right angles to the other crutch or side by side as one.