Wet or waxed floors and smooth cement floors can be slippery. Your elbows should be slightly bent. With a few helpful tips and practice, using crutches gets much easier. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 224,203 times. So be wise in choosing the right one for your needs. Info. Heavy Duty Millennial Medical Crutches. Step up with your good foot, bring your injured foot up, then put your weight on the crutches. 360° View Able to put up to half of your weight through your injured leg. ", armpit discomfort, after only 2 days. Move forward to the edge of the chair so your good foot is flat on the floor. I thought I'm going to check the internet for some tips, and found this site. This pattern will be recommended if one of your legs should not touch the floor. Going upstairs. Use a waist pouch or a backpack as a purse. While standing, place the crutches 8 in-10 in front of you. You also might be leaning too far forward or back. I had a knee, "Proper fit of the crutches wasn't demonstrated adequately enough at the hospital and I am having back pain and, "I had the extreme bunionectomy with screws and all; this was the best article I have read. No body weight on your injured leg. This is often called your "weight bearing status." If you use two forearm crutches, your gait has four points: crutch‐foot‐crutch‐foot. Forearm Crutches: Forearm crutches are also known as elbow crutches. Non-weightbearing. Here are several tips you can use to co Put both crutches under the arm away from the railing (or hold as in the diagram below) and use both crutches as one. If the steps don't have a handrail, lower your crutches to the stair below, move your injured leg down, then step down with your other foot with your weight on the hand grips. Adding comfortable hand grips and underarm pads can make conventional underarm crutches more comfortable. If you are at home, you can sit down on the steps and use your arms to lift yourself up to the next highest step. Using a 4-point gait-style. Note: If you start with your left crutch, reverse the above order. Lean forward and bend your good knee. When it is about to move with crutches, you must have at least sufficient physical ability. Crutches can be used for a number of injuries, not just fractures. You would use the crutch on the uninjured side. Stand up, taking weight through your good leg. Climb one stair at a time. Place as much weight as you have been instructed on the leg, with the remaining weight shared between the crutches. 3. To go upstairs with a handrail, place one crutch under one arm and use the handrail with the other arm for support. Use caution when you walk on ice or snow. The most important thing that you need to find out from your health care provider is how much weight you are allowed to put on your surgical or injured leg. Your doctor or therapist will tell you how much weight you can put on your leg. Move the crutch forward and step with your weaker leg at the same time. These should be checked regularly, kept in good condition, and replaced as needed. Weight bearing . We’ve described underarm or axillary crutches before and they are not friendly at all. The hand grip should be at wrist level when your arm is hanging by your side. Author: Allied Health (Physiotherapy), Alberta Health Services. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to move forward. "I always forget how to use one crutch when only one side of body is injured or had surgery. It withstands weight of upper portion of body. Move the crutches forward. Can I buy crutches to use? Transfer 1 crutch and hold both crutches by the hand grips in 1 hand. Going up stairs (option 2): An alternative, if there is a handrail, is to hold both crutches under … How do I climb stairs if my leg is stuck at a straight angle? Correct crutch balance. Shopping. To switch to a two‐point gait, bring the crutch and your foot forward at the same time when you take a step. Make sure that you plan ahead where you will be walking and where you will place the crutches. Your elbows should bend a bit when you use the hand grips. Fitting Your Crutches • Adjust your crutches for your height. Keep crutches down on lower level and do not place upward on the steps. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Be careful when walking on uneven ground. To take a step, squeeze the crutches between your upper arms and ribs put the weight through your hands not your armpits. This is an essential tool for handicapped persons due to lacking muscle power in the leg. Watch out for small rugs or cords. Lean forward taking your weight on your good leg. You may want to ask a partner to help you the first few times you take the stairs since it can be tricky to keep your balance. Always follow your doctor’s order about the weight-bearing status of the injured leg. Crutches allow you to take some or all the weight off of one leg. The most important thing is putting the crutch under the arm that’s opposite of your injured leg. Last Updated: May 1, 2020 Repeat these steps to keep walking—crutches, injured leg, good leg. Bring your body forward slowly between the crutches. You do not want to exceed the weight limit as they could collapse and cause further injury. To use crutches properly, teach your child the following instructions: Your child should keep the crutches in place by squeezing them between the upper arm and the body (see diagram above). Look behind you to make sure no furniture or other items are in your way. It’s normal to think off that in this way you are going to minimize the risk of point 3 from the previous paragraph. Never stand on your injured leg unless your doctor says you can. This material is for information purposes only. A patient would need to get crutches that are appropriate for his or her size and weight. How to Use Crutches Never support yourself on your armpits. If it does hurt for some reason and you haven't broken your wrist, go to your doctor or PT aid. Your shoulders should lean forward slightly while using the crutches. For the overall comfort of hand, rubber ferrule is used. Easy to understand, and, "The pictures were a great help with the written steps.". Swing forward and rest your non-injured foot on the ground, then repeat. Apart from that, you have to maintain adequate body balance. This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. It's important to use your crutches correctly so you don't accidentally fall, worsen your leg injury, or damage the skin or tissue under your arms. How can I go up the stairs without a hand rail? I severely sprained my foot and toe, and my doctor gave me an ankle wrap. As struggling on this moments, crutches have been using from the ancient times. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Here's how to use crutches on the stairs: Approach the stairs and have your therapist stand by for safety until confident of abilities. Crutches are there to provide stability and transfer weight off the injured side. It is important to obtain crutches that are comfortable for use and are in a safe and working condition. Do it right and make it fun! [3] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world'… Move your injured leg forward and put your foot even with the crutches. 3. Our Full Report On Two Popular Forearm Crutches Pediatric Forearm Crutches. When you walk, you should only feel two points of contact with the ground. Hoist yourself up and place your weight on your healthy foot, then pass one crutch to the injured side and balance using the hand grips. Stand up straight with crutches placed slightly forward and out to the side. To use your crutches, you need to learn a new gait, or way to walk. Move both crutches forward at the same time. Don’t put any weight on the injured leg. Standing on your uninjured foot, hold the foot on your injured side off the ground. Use the method you were shown with the instructions below. How to use crutches on the stairs. When placed down, the crutches should hit the ground a few inches wider than shoulder width on either side. The top of the crutch should be 1 to 2 inches below your armpit. The top of the crutch should be 1 to 2 inches below your armpit. From muscle strain to broken legs, crutches are used for. [1] Hold the handgrips for support. Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Use-Crutches-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Crutches-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Use-Crutches-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1126246-v4-728px-Use-Crutches-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"