Walking with Crutches: Partial Weight Bearing

General Guidelines

• Follow Doctor's Orders:
  • Apply only the amount of weight that your doctor has prescribed on the injured leg.

Sitting and Standing with Crutches

• To Sit in a Chair:
  • Back up until you feel the chair against the back of your legs.
  • Hold both crutches with the hand on your injured side.
  • Extend the injured leg in front as you reach for the chair with the other hand.
  • Slowly lower yourself into the chair by bending at the hips.
• To Stand Up:
  • Reverse the process used for sitting.

Walking with Crutches

• Proper Crutch Positioning:
  • Keep crutches under your arms and close to your sides.
  • Squeeze tops of crutches into sides; apply weight through hands, not armpits.
  • Avoid leaning on crutches with armpits.
• Walking Procedure:
  • Move crutches forward 6 to 12 inches.
  • Push down on handgrips as you step forward with the injured leg first, applying the designated weight.
  • Step through with the healthy leg.
  • Sequence: Crutches forward, injured leg forward, then healthy leg.

Navigating Stairs

• Going Upstairs:
  • Start at the bottom step.
  • Step up with the healthy leg first, then lift crutches and the injured leg.
  • Check balance before continuing.
  • Use a handrail if available: hold both crutches under one arm and use the handrail.
  • Sequence: Good foot first, crutches, then injured foot.
• Going Downstairs:
  • Start at the edge of the step, keeping hips beneath you.
  • Place crutches on the lower step.
  • Injured leg goes down next, followed by the healthy leg.
  • Check balance before continuing.
  • Use a handrail if available, holding both crutches under one arm.
  • Sequence: Crutches on lower step, injured leg, then healthy leg.
  • Bend at the hips and knees to avoid leaning forward to prevent falls.