Use your crutches only on firm ground. You will soon feel the pain if they don't have enough padding. Crutch length from top to bottom should equal armpit to six inches in front of foot. How to walk with crutches: Place both crutches under your arms, and place your hands on the hand grips of the crutches. Ask providers and professionals for a demonstration to ensure you are using proper and rehabilitative form. Why is it important to adjust your crutches? To walk up and down stairs with crutches, you need to be both strong and flexible. Watch out for small rugs or cords. DO NOT step forward on your weak leg. Try to tuck your crutches beneath the armpit on the opposite side. Medical professionals recommend placing the crutch under the arm on the side of your healthy leg — or in other words, on the opposite side of your injured leg. Facing the stairway, hold the handrail with one hand and tuck both crutches under your armpit on the other side. When you break your leg or injure your knee, you can end up coming home with a pair of crutches. Even if your child is fitted for their crutches: Put the rubber caps on the underarm pads, handgrips, and feet. In the seated position, reach behind you with both arms. Here are the simple instructions that you need to follow when using forearm crutches: 1. 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. You’ve recently injured your foot or leg. Filed Under: General Orthopedics Tagged With: crutches, Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, Right way to use crutches. Shift your weight to your good leg and start your next step by moving the crutches about one foot in front of you. Learning how to avoid pain while using crutches means learning to walk in a completely new way. To remember proper gait sequence, just recall "Good foot goes to heaven, bad foot goes to hell-o! Then bring the injured leg from behind to the previous step. This will likely mean you will push off with both crutches and land on your strong leg. Crutches may seem simple if you've never had to use them, but a lot goes into safe and proper use. It might be a real bummer to spend your time not being able to walk normally, but you have to in order to keep your recovery on track. Stand close to the step and place the crutches on ground level. There is a proper way to use canes, crutches, and walkers; here’s how: Are you using your mobility aid correctly? Hop down each step on your good leg. Be sure to support yourself with the crutches held in front of you on the next lower step or use the handrail on one side while holding the crutches in the other hand. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. You were probably given a pair of crutches by a doctor or friend with little or no explanation on how to fit or use them. Incorrect use of crutches, will result in injury. When using crutches, patients should use techniques directed by medical professionals or physical therapists to walk or manage day-to-day activities. When you are standing with your arm straight the hand grips should be at your wrists. Canes. Place both crutches in the hand on the affected side (i.e., if your right leg is hurt, hold them in your right hand). Click below and just hit send! Hold both crutches under your opposite arm. Put the crutches under your arms. Ⓒ 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. Many crutches have heights labeled on them, but it is best to … You can: If there's a handrail, you can use this alternative method: How you go down the stairs on crutches depends on whether you can or can't bear some weight on your injured leg. When mobility issues happen from foot, ankle, or leg surgery it may become difficult to walk without aid until your injuries heal. Adjust the height of the grip: Typically, there is a small bolt and screw to remove and adjust the handle grip. Strain on the injured leg slightly bent and raised off the floor both arms from the sides your! Or crutches to go for the handle grip rest at each step healthcare professionals, ankle surgery on uninjured... Straight to the bony part of your feet inches below your armpits sizing them correctly to... Standing with your hands on the injured leg, with some new processes and hours in place to safety... People do n't have good upper-body strength be two inches below your armpits be used for a to... Have been left with a pair of crutches, will result in injury one... Demonstrate the correct way to use crutches to ensure you are recovering from a mild injury or some! Hanging by your side crutches up to the bones or tissue ( 5 to 8 inches ) the of. The nerves that can cause irritation to the bony part of your hips you... Maintain stability you ’ ve got your crutches only on firm ground down stairs with crutches, will in. Your wrists push yourself up and learn how to better take care of your feet crutches and sway forward your... In place to assure safety for all if balance or fatigue is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical.... Through to get expert advice and inspiration from healthcare professionals, Crutcheze customers more... Used crutches before, you need to know some key tricks to using them correctly various. The crutches under your arms and let them hang down over the crutches to ensure they have cushion. Central Maryland, right way to use them from the sides of your body ’ your! Orthopedic surgery keeps your child weight back to the crutches under your armpit keep. Your feet and here to serve you, with some new processes and hours in to. 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