On stairs without a railing: follow the instructions for going up and down stairs, except leave one crutch under each arm (as for walking). We know how tricky it can be to use crutches in the right way so that they help you to recover as quickly as possible. Remove loose mats and rugs, electric cords, and cables—these could cause you to trip or slip. Going upstairs. Here are several tips you can use to co Move the crutches to the first step and repeat the process to continue up the steps. Lean forward taking your weight on your good leg. Whether you need assistance during recovery with weight bearing restrictions or you’re looking for a long-term aid, crutches can help get you up and walking again. Crutches are used to support mobility needs. Move your operated leg and crutches forward at the same time. Make sure the crutches are sturdy, and that the rubber padding, where your armpit rests, is still springy. This article has been viewed 224,203 times. Ensure you have no upper limb injuries that may be aggravated through the use of crutches. The crutch is meant to help keep you stable and take weight off the injured side. The top of your crutches should reach between 1 and 1.5 inches below your armpits while you stand up straight. Master's Degree, Nursing, University of Tennessee Knoxville. Crutches are a very useful piece of equipment for many lower limb injuries, however, this piece of equipment can prove to be quite complicated for those who have never used or been taught to use crutches before. It supports walking or climbing receiving pressure of specific portion of the body. 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. Fitting Your Crutches • Adjust your crutches for your height. You do not want to exceed the weight limit as they could collapse and cause further injury. To use your crutches, you need to learn a new gait, or way to walk. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It may take a while to get used to this movement. How to Use Crutches Properly? People use crutches to help them with their walking problem and forearm crutches live up to that expectations. Use your crutches only on firm ground. When you're ready to stand up, turn the crutches right side up and hold them in the hand on your non-injured side. Hold the handgrips for support. Able to take full weight through your injured leg. Sit to Stand and Walking with Crutches. [2] 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. Use caution when you walk on ice or snow. Move as though you are taking a step with your injured foot but place your weight on the handgrips of the crutches instead. For tips from our medical reviewer on using the crutches to help you sit or climb stairs, read on! We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 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). Place the top of the crutches under your arms. A walking aid like crutches are helpful when you sustain an injury or require additional support. Easy to understand, and, "The pictures were a great help with the written steps.". You’ll be shown either partial weight bearing or weight-bearing as tolerated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. If you have an accident, a fall, suffer a stroke, or have a surgical procedure which limits the use of your legs, crutches or some other support device will be needed as you heal. Move your right leg forward so it’s even with the left crutch. Make sure that your crutches have rubber tips, padded shoulder pieces and hand grips. It should not be used in place of medical advice, instruction, or treatment. Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Place your crutches about 1 foot (30 centimeters) in front of you, slightly wider apart than your body. Transfer the crutches under your arms after you get your balance. How to Use Crutches Never support yourself on your armpits. Hands-free crutches came into being from the adverse side effects of underarm crutches. Approved. Watch for wet surfaces. What if I've done damage to my ankle replacement? Always follow your doctor’s order about the weight-bearing status of the injured leg. opposite​ to the injured leg. 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. Multispeciality Hospital. Go to source With the crutches on the floor, and in one motion, bend the uninvolved knee and place the foot up on the first step. Here's how to use crutches on the stairs: Approach the stairs and have your therapist stand by for safety until confident of abilities. Squeeze the crutch underneath your armpit and grab the hand grip that's roughly in the middle of the crutch. Ensure that the crutches your patient is purchasing are made for their height. 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. To reduce the risk of accidentally taking a topple, you can also seat yourself on the top step, holding your injured foot in front of you, and use your hands to support yourself as you scoot down the steps one stair at a time. With crutches in place, lean on your hands, not your armpits. Adding comfortable hand grips and underarm pads can make conventional underarm crutches more comfortable. The forearm cuffs and handgrips are designed to take some of the weight off of the arms during weight bearing. It withstands weight of upper portion of body. As for losing your balance, you can pay for more PT lessons. Support your weight on both your crutch and your weaker leg. Place the top of the crutches under your arms. … Crutches are used to take the weight off of an injured leg. When a patient is ready to start ambulating with crutches, they will start in the tripod position as demonstrated in the picture below. Take it slow. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Your provider will talk to you about how much weight you should put on your weak leg. Here's how to do it. Be careful when walking on uneven ground. "I always forget how to use one crutch when only one side of body is injured or had surgery. A gutter crutch is usually prescribed to rheumatoid arthritis patients because of their weak grip due to joint pain. 2 to 3 finger space between the top of the crutch pad and your armpit. This lifts the body upward. When a patient is learning how to use crutches, the nurse should apply a gait belt to the patient for safety. Last Updated: May 1, 2020 Stand up straight with crutches placed slightly forward and out to the side. Using Crutches and Walking Boots Together. If you know in advance that you will need crutches, such as before a planned surgery, get the crutches in advance and practice using them correctly. The top of your crutches should be about one to two inches below your armpits when you are standing upright. Keep crutches down on lower level and do not place upward on the steps. Use the method you were shown with the instructions below. You would use the crutch on the uninjured side. Step up with your good foot, bring your injured foot up, then put your weight on the crutches. Note: If you start with your left crutch, reverse the above order. This handout gives instructions on how to safely use crutches to help your recovery and healing. Begin your step as if you were going to use the injured foot or leg but, instead, shift your weight to the crutches. Able to put up to half of your weight through your injured leg. Using a 4-point gait-style. Never stand on your injured leg unless your doctor says you can. The top of the crutch should be 1 to 2 inches below your armpit. From muscle strain to broken legs, crutches are used for. 3. With 2 crutches: Face the stairs with the crutches close to the first step. You'll have to ask someone to bring the crutches down for you. Choose between soft fleece covers, wipe clean non-latex pads, or cushy gel covers.. If you’ve chosen forearm crutches, you can add a gel cover to the forearm cuff to make them more comfortable.. As you use your crutches, the tips may get worn down. According to statistics, 6.5 million people use a cane, a walker, or crutches to assist with their mobility. When using one crutch, do you use that crutch on the injured side or the other side of a leg that is not injured? replacement, and this article put my concerns of how to go forth with the one crutch at ease. Can a 400-lb person use 325-lb limit crutches safely? Crutches are almost always used in pairs for adequate support. • Make sure your elbows are slightly bent. Put the crutches ahead and to the sides of your feet for the best balance. To use crutches effectively, you need to learn a new way to walk. Your elbows should bend a bit when you use the handgrips. Obtain new crutches or used ones that are in very good condition. % of people told us that this article helped them. Use the crutch in the hand so that you can select the size that matches your patient’s height. 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