If you have an injury or have recently had surgery and are unable to support your weight on your feet, your doctor may suggest you use crutches. Crutches are medical devices that allow you to keep moving while your injured leg heals. Using crutches may not be as easy as one might think. Ask a family member for help the first time you use it. Make sure crutches are set to the correct height before use.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Positioning Crutches
Step 1. Put on the shoes you normally wear
Before adjusting the height of the crutches, make sure you wear footwear that you normally use for normal daily activities. This step ensures that you are at the correct height when adjusting the crutches.
Step 2. Place the crutches at a height appropriate to your height
Using crutches at an incorrect height can cause nerve damage in the armpit area. There should be about 4 cm of space between the armpit and the top of the crutches when you place the crutches in the normal position. In other words, try to keep the crutches pads from pressing against your sides or being too far away from your body.
When using crutches, you will be placing the arm pads under your armpits, not inside them
Step 3. Adjust the crutches well
Adjust the crutches so that when you are standing straight with your arms at your sides, the handles of the crutches are directly under your palms. The hand guard should be about 2.5-3 cm above the elbow.
If you have never used crutches before, your doctor or nurse will help adjust the crutches the first time
Step 4. Align the handle of the crutches with your hips
You can adjust the position of the handle by removing the butterfly screw and sliding the bolt out of the hole. Slide the crutch handle to the correct location, insert the bolt and tighten the screw.
Step 5. Call your doctor if you feel unsafe using crutches
Your doctor may be able to provide you with a device other than crutches, but this will depend on the type of injury.
- A walker or cane may be an option if you are allowed to support some of your weight on your feet.
- Crutches users need some arm and upper body strength. If you are frail or elderly, your doctor may suggest a wheelchair or walker.
Step 6. Visit a physical therapist
A person who must use crutches is usually advised to do physical therapy. Ask your doctor about this. A physical therapist will help you learn how to use crutches properly and can monitor your progress. Often doctors recommend using crutches after an injury or surgery. Therefore, you may also need rehabilitation.
- Your doctor may suggest at least a few sessions with a physical therapist to help you get used to using crutches. If you can't support your weight on your feet, your doctor will likely send you to see a physical therapist before leaving the hospital to learn how to move properly.
- If you have to have surgery on your foot or knee, you will most likely need to see a physical therapist for rehabilitation. A physical therapist will make sure you are stable enough and can walk safely using crutches. A physical therapist will also work with you to develop strength and mobility.
Part 2 of 3: Walking on Crutches
Step 1. Position the crutches in the correct way
First, the crutches must be positioned perpendicularly. Place the shoulder pads slightly wider than your shoulders so that your body can fit snugly between the crutches when standing. The legs of the crutches should be next to your feet, and the pads should be placed under your arms. Place your hand on the handle.
Step 2. Place your weight on the healthy (uninjured) leg
Press down on the handle of the crutches while standing, and try to keep the injured leg or leg off the floor (not pressing on the floor). All body weight must be supported by healthy feet. You may need the help of a friend or family member to do this.
If necessary, you can hold on to something stable such as sturdy furniture or railings as you adjust to moving around independently
Step 3. Take the first step
Step on your feet, starting by placing the foot pads of the crutches slightly in front of you, making sure that both crutches are slightly wider than shoulder width apart. The steps you take should be short enough, about 30 cm, so that you feel stable. When you feel steady and ready, lean back on the crutches by gripping them loosely and then push yourself against the handles and straighten your arms, transferring your weight to your arms. Swing slowly through the gap between the crutches, lifting your legs and moving them forward. Place the healthy foot evenly on the floor, with the other foot next to it. Repeat the process until you reach your goal.
- When turning, use your strong foot as a support. Do not use the sore leg.
- As the injury heals you will feel more comfortable taking a wider stride, but make sure the crutches never go beyond the tip of the sore toe; otherwise, you will most likely lose your balance and be at greater risk of falling. Be careful, especially during the first few days of using crutches. Many people have difficulty.
Step 4. Properly distribute body weight while walking
Lean on crutches, and swing your body forward, slowly shifting your weight forward using your arms, not your elbows. Make sure you bend your elbows slightly, and use your arm muscles. Don't lean on your armpits.
- When leaning, do not rest on the armpits. The armpits will be sore and can cause a painful rash. Instead, rest on your hands using your arm muscles.
- You can cover the underarm pads with socks or a rolled-up towel to prevent rashes from forming.
- Resting on the armpit can cause a condition called radial nerve palsy. If this happens, the wrist and hand may become weak, and occasionally the back of the hand may become numb. The good news is that when the pressure is released, the injury usually heals on its own.
- Resting on the armpit can also cause a brachial plexus injury, or "crutch palsy," or rotator cuff tendonitis, which causes swelling and pain in the shoulder and outer arm.
Step 5. Do not grip the handle too tightly
Doing so can cause the fingers to cramp and increase hand numbness. Try to keep your hands as relaxed as possible. To avoid cramping, try to keep your fingers cupped so that the crutches “fall” into your fingers as they lift off the floor. Thus, there is no pressure on the soles and you can walk further without experiencing significant discomfort.
Step 6. Use a backpack to carry things
Using a sling bag or handbag on one side of the body can interfere with the mobility of crutches. This kind of bag can also throw you off balance. Use a backpack to carry things when you use crutches.
Part 3 of 3: Sitting and Climbing Stairs with Crutches
Step 1. Back to the chair to sit down
Balance your weight on the healthy leg and place both crutches under your arm on the same side as the injured leg. Use your hands to feel the chair behind you. Slowly lower yourself into the chair, lifting the weak leg as you sit. Once seated, lean the crutches upside down somewhere near you so they don't fall over and are difficult to get back into.
Step 2. Climb the ladder carefully
Stand facing the stairs, and notice where the railing is, placing the crutches for that side under the other arm. Now you have one hand free to hold on to the railing and one hand on the crutches to support your weight, while the second crutches are under your arms.
- If possible, ask someone to help carry unused crutches.
- If possible, use a walking ladder instead of a regular ladder when using crutches.
Step 3. Place crutches on the floor first
The crutches should be near you, on the outside of the healthy leg. You should hold on to the railing with your hand on the same side as the injured leg. Make sure the crutches don't move until you've climbed the rung, then move the crutches to the rung you just climbed. Never move crutches before moving your legs.
Step 4. Lift the healthy leg to the first rung
Use the same leg to move your entire body weight. Then, move the crutches to the rung you just climbed. Now repeat the process until you reach the top of the stairs. You should use your healthy leg to support most of the weight when lifting your body, and your arms should only be used for support and balance. As you descend the stairs, place the injured leg and crutches on the steps at the bottom, then use the healthy foot to transfer all of your body weight down.
- If you are confused about which leg to take first, make sure the position of the healthy foot is always higher on the stairs because the healthy foot must support the weight of the entire body when moving. Try to remember the following phrase, "Healthy feet on top, sore feet on bottom". Healthy feet take precedence when going up stairs, and sick (injured) feet take precedence when going down stairs.
- Actually you can also use both crutches to climb/descend stairs, but it takes practice to do this and you have to be very careful. The same concept can be applied, “put the injured leg down” first.
Step 5. Try shifting
If you feel too unsteady on the stairs, try to sit on each step and lift yourself up or down. Start by sitting on the bottom step with the injured leg in front of you. Slide your body up and sit on the next step, while holding both crutches with the other hand and moving your hands while carrying the crutches. Do the same thing when going down the stairs. Hold the crutches with the free hand and use the other hand and the healthy leg to support the body as you move down.
Tips
- Take a break to rest your arms and legs.
- Use a backpack to carry things so that both hands are free.
- While sleeping, place the injured leg in a higher position to reduce swelling.
- Do not wear high heels or shoes that make your position unstable.
- Don't walk too much as it will put too much stress on your hands. Hands will feel very sore.
- Watch for things like small rugs, toys, and objects scattered on the floor. Try to keep the floor in a tidy condition to avoid accidents.
- Walk in small steps when crossing slippery, wet, or oily areas as the crutches can slip from your hands.
- Small steps don't tire you out too much, but the journey becomes slower.
- Go slowly!
- Consider alternatives to crutches. If the injury occurs in the part of the leg that is below the knee, you may have a much easier option. Do a search for “knee scooter” or “orthopedic scooter” and check the external links provided. The device works like a scooter and features a special pad where you place the knee of the injured leg and use your healthy foot to propel the scooter. Scooters aren't necessarily suitable for all types of foot injuries, but if you think a scooter is right for your needs, talk to your doctor and seek information about places that rent medical equipment. If you don't like crutches, a wheelchair can always be a good option.
