Mark Ganjianpour, M.D.Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Patient guide 05 / 05

Using Crutches

Crutches are suited to an injury that affects one leg, and using them requires good upper-body strength and flexibility. Here's how to use them safely.

01

Using your crutches safely

  • Adjust the crutches for your height: the top should be 1–2 inches below your armpit.
  • Make sure the pads and hand grips are in place.
  • Keep the crutch tips clean and free of dirt and stones.
  • Remove throw rugs at home to avoid falls.
  • Put your weight on your hands, not your armpits.
  • Keep your elbows close to your sides, with a slight bend when holding the grips.
  • Place the crutch tips 2–3 inches (5–8 cm) to the side of your feet and 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) in front of your toes.
  • Don't walk too fast. Keep your head up and look ahead, not at your feet, and check your balance often.
  • Lift your crutches and injured leg higher on carpet than on tile or smooth floors.
02

Step by step

Standing up

  1. Hold both crutches on your injured side.
  2. Slide to the edge of the chair.
  3. Lean forward and push down on the arm of the chair on your good side to stand.
  4. Check your balance, and follow instructions about how much weight to put on your injured leg.
  5. Place the crutches under your arms.

Sitting down

  1. Back up to the chair until you feel it against the back of your legs.
  2. Hold both crutches in the hand on your injured side.
  3. Reach back for the chair with your other hand.
  4. Lower yourself slowly, bending at the hips.

Walking

  1. Place the crutches under your arms and press them into your sides.
  2. Move the crutches 6–12 inches ahead of you.
  3. Push down on the hand grips as you step up to the crutches with your injured leg first.

Going upstairs

  1. Have someone stand behind you to help as needed.
  2. Keep the crutches on the step you are standing on and support your weight between them.
  3. Bring your good leg up to the next step, letting the injured leg trail behind.
  4. Straighten your good leg, then bring the crutches and injured leg up.

Going downstairs

  1. Place the crutches on the lower step while moving your injured foot forward.
  2. Support your weight between your crutches.
  3. Move your good foot down to the lower step.

Getting into and out of a car

  1. Have someone open the door and move the seat back as far as possible.
  2. Back up until you feel the edge of the seat. Hold the seat with one hand and the crutch grips with the other.
  3. Tip your head to avoid bumping it, and use your good leg to bear your weight as you sit or stand.
  4. To sit, put the heel of your good leg on the car frame and push back, sliding across the seat until your injured leg can be swung in.
03

Stairs & curbs

  • Don't try stairs or curbs until you can use the crutches well.
  • For safety, you can sit and scoot up and down steps on your bottom if needed.
  • If there's a rail, put both crutches under one arm and hold the rail.
Questions?Call the office at (310) 855-0751. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.