What are crutches?
Crutches are supports that help you walk when you have an
injured leg or foot.
How do I use crutches?
Walking: Bring the crutches forward evenly, keeping your
injured leg off the ground. Lean forward, putting your weight
on your hands against the grips of the crutches. Don't rest
your armpits on the crutches because the pressure can cause
damage to a nerve that passes through the armpit. Swing
your good leg forward, placing your foot just in front of
the crutches. Repeat. (Note: In some cases your health
care provider may allow you to put some weight on your
injured leg while you are using crutches.)
Getting up from a chair or bed: Hold both crutches
together by the grips in the hand on the side of the injured
leg. Push up from the chair or bed with the other hand
while you push up on the crutches. Use your good leg to
bring you to a standing position. Get your balance and
bring your crutches into position on either side of you
before you start to walk.
Sitting down: Hold your crutches together by the grips in
the hand on the injured side. Hold onto the chair or bed
with the other hand and lower yourself slowly. Unless you
are allowed to put some weight on your injured leg, keep
your injured leg off the ground and keep your weight on the
good leg.
Stairs: Going up, get close to the stairs. Step up with the
good leg, then bring the crutches and the injured leg up to
the step that the good leg is on. Repeat. Going down,
first bring the crutches and the injured leg down to the
lower step. Then step down with the good leg. Repeat. If
there is a handrail, put both crutches under the opposite
arm and use the rail for support. Remember: "Up with the
good, down with the bad."
Going through doorways: Be sure to give yourself enough room
to allow your feet and crutches to clear the door. After
opening the door, block it from swinging closed with a
crutch tip. Walk through the doorway.
How can I take care of myself while I'm using crutches?
- Be careful not to slip on water or ice.
- Sometimes crutches rub against the skin between your arm
and chest. You may want to use body lotion or talcum
powder to prevent skin chafing.
- If your hands get sore or tired, you may want to put
extra padding on the crutch grips.
- Be sure not to lean on the crutches and put pressure on
your armpits. If there is pressure on your armpits even
when you use the crutches correctly, the crutches are too
long and need to be shortened.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
This
information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers
but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical
treatment. You should speak to your physician or make
an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about
this information or your medical condition.