How to Use Crutches Correctly - Ask Doctor Jo

Walking with Crutches may seem simple, but if you don’t use crutches correctly, or if the crutches are the wrong height, you could hinder your recovery. In this video, Doctor Jo shows you the basics of walking with crutches and sizing them correctly for various situations. See Doctor Jo’s blog post about this at: http://www.askdoctorjo.com/content/walking-with-crutches

One of the most important things about crutches is to have the right height. The legs are adjustable, and most of them now have the height for each hole, but this is just for guidance. You should have a slight bend in your elbow and the top of the crutches should be about 2 inches below your armpit, not touching so you don’t press on the nerves in your armpit. You also want the crutches to be slightly out to the side and not right by your feet, so you have some more stability when walking.

So once you have the crutches correctly adjusted, you need to know how much you are allowed to put on your injured side. There is non-weight bearing, toe touch weight bearing, partial weight bearing, and weight bearing as tolerated.

The first one is non-weight bearing. Without shrugging your shoulders, shift all your weight to your good leg, and then bring both crutches forward in front of you. Then shift your weight onto the crutches, and swing your good leg forward. The crutches go where your injured leg would go. Continue this movement.

Then next one is a toe touch weight bearing. You can put about 20% of your body weight on your injured leg, or imagine you are putting your foot on eggshells, and you don’t want to crush them. The crutches go where your injured leg goes. Bring your crutches and your injured leg forward putting most of your weight on the crutches and step through with the good leg. Continue this movement.

Now you have partial weight bearing or maybe even weight bearing as tolerated. So now you can go down to one crutch. Begin in a standing upright position holding a crutch on the opposite side of your injured leg. The crutch goes where your injured leg goes. Bring your crutch and your injured leg forward and step through with the good leg. Continue this movement. Try not to lean on the crutch. It is just there for a little bit of support to get you closer to walking without anything.

Related Videos:

How to Walk with a Cane Correctly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFMEmG6YKDI

When, Why & How to Use a Walking Cane or Quad Cane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWFfstzrCNs

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Doctor Jo is a licensed Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy.
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How to Use Crutches Correctly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO403T2tlQo

DISCLAIMER: This video and any related comments are not medical advice. Doctor Jo is a licensed Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy; however, she is not YOUR Physical Therapist and can't possibly diagnose you through the Internet. So don't use this information to avoid going to your own healthcare professional or to replace the advice they have given you. This information should not be used to self-diagnose or self-treat any medical condition. If you are not properly diagnosed, this information won't help, and it could make things worse. If you experience any pain, stop immediately and see your healthcare professional.