Crutches can keep weight off an injured leg and help you move during recovery, but they only work safely when they fit and you use the pattern your clinician prescribed. Before you take a long hallway, practice on level ground: your hands—not your underarms—should carry your weight, and each step should feel controlled rather than rushed.
Choose the crutch that matches your needs
The right walking aid depends on your injury, weight-bearing instructions, balance, and hand strength. A physical therapist can help select the safest type and teach the gait pattern that fits your restrictions.
| Type | What it supports | When it may be used |
|---|---|---|
| Underarm crutches | A padded top below the armpit, a straight frame, and a handgrip | They are the most common type and are often used for short-term injuries. |
| Forearm crutches | A cuff just above the elbow and a handgrip | They are shorter than underarm crutches and are often used for long-term disabilities outside Europe. |
| Platform crutches | A padded platform for the forearm plus a handgrip | They can help when a person cannot bear weight through the wrist or hand. |
A walker offers more stability than crutches and can be a safer starting point with weakness on both sides, major balance trouble, or a real fall risk. Crutches can be used on stairs; a walker should not be used on stairs with more than one step. If you do not feel steady using crutches, tell your clinician rather than trying to “get used to it” alone.
Fit underarm crutches before your first step
Wear the shoes you normally use, stand upright, look ahead, and let your shoulders relax while the crutches are adjusted. With underarm crutches, the top pad should sit about 1.5 to 2 inches below the armpit. Another useful check is roughly two to three finger widths of space.
- Set each handgrip at the crease of your wrist when your arms hang relaxed.
- When you hold the grip, your elbow should have a slight bend—about 15 to 30 degrees—not lock straight.
- For a fit check, place each tip about 2 inches to the side of your shoe and about 6 inches in front of your toe.
For example, if the pad presses into your armpit or your shoulders rise toward your ears, the crutch is too tall or needs to be rechecked. Never lean your body weight into the underarm pad. Press through your hands instead; resting on the pad can compress nerves and blood vessels in the underarm area. A clinician or physical therapist should confirm the fit, especially if the setup feels awkward or painful.
How to walk safely with crutches
Follow the weight-bearing instructions you were given. “Non-weight-bearing” means keeping the injured foot off the floor. “Partial weight-bearing” means placing only the amount of weight your care team allows through that side. The sequence matters more than speed.
Use the pattern that protects your injured side
- Three-point pattern: Move both crutches forward. Bring the affected leg up to the crutches, then step through with the unaffected leg. This is used when one leg cannot fully bear weight.
- Non-weight-bearing pattern: Put both crutches forward, push through your hands, and swing the stronger leg between the crutches while the injured foot stays off the ground.
- Partial weight-bearing pattern: Move both crutches forward, then move the injured foot forward with them while applying only the permitted weight.
- Four-point pattern: Right crutch, left leg, left crutch, right leg. It is slow, but three of four points stay on the ground at a time.
Keep steps short. Long steps reduce stability and raise the chance of a fall.
Take stairs one step at a time
The memory phrase is simple: up with the good, down with the bad. Going up, lead with the stronger leg. Going down, lead with the injured side and the crutches.
Going up with a handrail
Place one crutch under one arm and hold the rail with the other hand. Step up first with the stronger leg, then bring the injured leg up, then bring the crutch up.
Going down
Move the crutches and injured leg down together first, then bring the stronger leg down. Stairs without help are appropriate only for people with good strength, agility, and balance. When going down, it can be safer to use one crutch and the handrail while another person carries the second crutch and stays beside you.
Stand up and sit down without losing your balance
Start with a stable chair that has armrests when possible. To stand, hold both crutches by their handgrips in one hand on the injured side. Push up from the chair or armrest with the other hand, stand on the stronger leg, then place one crutch under each arm.
To sit, back up until you feel the chair against the backs of your legs. Hold both crutches on the injured side, reach back for the chair or armrest with your other hand, and lower yourself slowly while protecting the injured leg. Do not reach for a chair that is not directly behind you.
Make your home safer before you move around
Clear throw rugs, cords, clutter, and anything that can catch a crutch tip. Keep floors dry, and slow down when you move from a smooth floor to carpet or an uneven surface.
- Wear supportive shoes with good traction; avoid slick shoes and loose sandals.
- Use a backpack, waist pack, or cross-body bag instead of carrying items in your hands.
- Check that rubber tips are clean, secure, and not worn smooth. Remove debris from the bottoms and replace damaged tips before they become a fall risk.
Common crutch myths that can lead to a fall
“The underarm pads hold me up.”
They do not. Your hands bear the weight. Leaning into underarm pads can compress the brachial plexus and lead to nerve problems sometimes called crutch palsy.
“Straight elbows mean the grips are adjusted correctly.”
Not necessarily. Grips set too low can lock the elbows and strain them. A small elbow bend is the safer target.
“The longest stride gets me there faster.”
Long strides make you less stable. Short, deliberate steps are safer, particularly while you are learning.
Know when to ask for hands-on help
A provider may recommend crutches for a stress fracture to take pressure off the injured bone, but the amount of weight you may place on the leg and the length of use depend on the specific injury. For example, published rehabilitation approaches differ for femoral neck, femoral shaft, and heel stress fractures. Follow the plan you were given rather than choosing a schedule yourself.
See a doctor or physical therapist if you cannot demonstrate safe use after instruction, feel unsteady, have increasing discomfort from the fit, or find walking more tiring or less stable than it was before. Physical therapists provide gait and crutch training after injury, surgery, or an accident and can match the device and pattern to your coordination and restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use crutches for a stress fracture?
Your provider may suggest crutches to take pressure off a stress fracture. The correct weight-bearing level varies by the bone involved and the injury, so get individual instructions before using them.
How expensive are crutches?
Standard underarm crutches are commonly listed at $30 to $60. Forearm crutches are commonly listed at $80 to $150, while specialty ergonomic models with shock absorption may cost $150 to $350 or more. Medicare Part B covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for crutches as durable medical equipment after the Part B deductible, leaving the patient responsible for 20%.
Does the NHS provide free crutches?
The NHS may provide free elbow crutches after surgery or injury, or when bilateral support is needed. They may be accessed through a hospital discharge team, an occupational therapist, or a GP referral, and should be returned when no longer needed for cleaning, servicing, and reuse.
Which is better for mobility, crutches or a walker?
A walker provides more stability and may be better for significant balance impairment or weakness on both sides. Crutches require upper-arm strength, balance, and two hands, but they can be used on stairs; a walker cannot be safely used on stairs with more than one step.
What if my underarm crutches hurt my hands or shoulders?
Do not push through pain or shrugging shoulders. Have the height and handgrips checked by your healthcare provider or physical therapist, and make sure you are supporting your weight through your hands rather than the pads.
