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How to Walk on Crutches with a Broken Ankle: A Detailed Guide

by alexxlab

How can I walk on crutches with a broken ankle? What are the proper techniques for using crutches safely and comfortably? Get expert tips on crutch height adjustment, standing, sitting, and walking with partial weight-bearing.

Adjusting Crutch Height for Optimal Fit

The first step in using crutches effectively is ensuring they are the correct height for your body. Here’s how to check and adjust the crutch height:

  1. Stand with your arm relaxed by your side.
  2. Hold the crutch next to your arm and check that the handle is in line with your wrist.
  3. To adjust the height, push the pins in and slide the crutch up or down to the correct position.

Ensuring Crutch Safety and Stability

Proper crutch maintenance is crucial for your safety. Check the following:

  • Inspect the rubber ferrules (stoppers) at the bottom of the crutches. If they are worn, replace them.
  • If the crutches are damaged in any way, contact your healthcare team to arrange for replacements.

Proper Technique for Standing and Sitting

Transitioning from sitting to standing, and vice versa, requires careful technique to maintain balance and avoid putting unnecessary stress on your injured leg. Here’s how to do it:

To Stand Up

1. Hold both crutches in one hand in an ‘H’ shape.
2. Place your other hand on the arm of the chair.
3. Push up from the chair to stand up, then place your hands into the crutches.

To Sit Down

1. Take your arms out of the crutches before sitting down.
2. Hold both crutches in one hand in an ‘H’ shape.
3. Feel for the arm of the chair with your other hand and sit down gently.

Walking Techniques for Partial Weight-Bearing

If you are allowed to put some weight on your injured leg, use the following technique:

  1. Place both crutches forward, just wider than hip-width apart.
  2. Step your injured foot forward between the crutches.
  3. Take weight through your arms and injured leg to step forward with your good leg.
  4. Repeat, moving the crutches forward with each step.

If you are not allowed to put any weight on your injured leg, use this technique:

  1. Place both crutches forward, just wider than hip-width apart.
  2. Keep your injured leg off the ground.
  3. Take your weight onto your hands.
  4. Hop forward on your good leg, landing between the crutches.

Making Crutch Use More Comfortable

Using crutches can be challenging, but there are ways to make the experience more comfortable:

  • Adjust the crutch height and handle position to ensure a proper fit and reduce strain on your armpits and elbows.
  • Wear padded cuffs or sleeves on the crutches to provide extra cushioning.
  • Take breaks and rest your arms and shoulders when needed.
  • Maintain good posture and keep your core engaged to minimize fatigue.

Returning Crutches When No Longer Needed

When you no longer require crutches, you can return them to the Fracture Clinic or Accident & Emergency department where you originally obtained them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to keep my injured leg completely off the ground when using crutches?

Not necessarily. If your healthcare provider has prescribed partial weight-bearing, you can lightly touch your injured foot to the ground to help maintain your balance. However, you should avoid putting significant weight on the injured leg.

How long will I need to use crutches?

The duration of crutch use can vary depending on the severity of your injury and your recovery progress. It’s important to follow the instructions of your healthcare provider and use the crutches as prescribed, which may be anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Can I put weight on my injured leg while using crutches?

This depends on the specifics of your injury and the instructions from your healthcare provider. Some injuries may allow for partial weight-bearing, while others may require you to keep your injured leg completely off the ground. Follow your provider’s guidance carefully to ensure proper healing.

What should I do if my crutches feel uncomfortable or causing pain?

If you experience discomfort or pain while using your crutches, it’s important to address the issue. Adjust the crutch height and handle position to ensure a proper fit. Wear padded cuffs or sleeves for additional cushioning. If the discomfort persists, contact your healthcare provider for further guidance.

Using your crutches · Virtual Fracture Clinic

If you have sustained an injury to your lower limb you may have been issued with crutches.  Please watch the video and read the advice below for a step by step guide on how to check the height of your crutches and how to use them.

Check your crutches

Height

Rest your arm by your side. Hold your crutch next to your arm – you may need to ask someone to help.

The handle of the crutch should be in line with your wrist.

To adjust the crutch, push the pins in and slide the crutch to the correct height.

Safety

Check the feral (rubber stopper) at the bottom of the crutch. It should look like the picture.

If the rings are worn away, it needs replacing. You can contact our team to arrange this. 

If your crutches are damaged in any way, contact our team.

Using your crutches

To stand

Hold both crutches in one hand in a ‘H’ shape, place your other hand on the arm of the chair.

 Push up from the chair to stand up. Once standing, put your hands into the crutches ready to walk. 

Place the crutches in front of you to maintain your balance.

To sit

Take both your arms out of the crutches before sitting down.

Place both crutches in one hand in a ‘H’ shape.

Feel for the arm of the chair with the other hand. Sit down gently. 

To walk – if you are allowed to put weight through your injured leg:

Place both crutches forwards in front of you, just wider than hip width apart.

Step your injured foot forwards between the crutches.

Take the weight through your arms and leg to step forwards with your good leg.

Put both crutches forwards and repeat.

To walk – if you are NOT allowed to put weight through your injured leg:

Put both crutches forwards in front of you, just wider than hip width apart.

Keep the injured leg off the ground.

Take your weight onto your hands.

Hop forwards on your good leg to land between the crutches.

When you no longer need your crutches they can be returned to the Fracture Clinic or A&E.

How to make using crutches more comfortable

Joint Health

by




Baylor Scott & White Health


Aug
11,
2021

When you get an injury that needs crutches, everything may feel completely new to you.

You may feel awkward with crutches and wonder just how long you have to go through this. Carl Hartmann, an orthopedic technologist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, offers a few tips.

“My role as an orthopedic technologist is to assist the surgeon in direct patient care, both in the clinic and operating room setting,” Carl said. He regularly works with a number of patients who need crutches.

Why you need crutches

If you’ve had an injury to one of your lower limbs, chances are you’ll need crutches. These injuries commonly include:

  • Broken leg
  • Sprained or broken ankle
  • Knee problems
  • Any surgery to a lower extremity
  • Amputations

“We have a large patient population that is required to be non-weight-bearing for a period of time,” Carl said.

There are many people who many need to be on crutches anywhere from a few weeks to months. You may have to use a crutch to keep the weight off of your limb, or perhaps you need assistance walking.

If you walk with extreme difficulty, crutches can help. People with leg or foot pain or injury, weak muscles or an unstable gait can use crutches to get around. Regaining upright body movement aids circulation, assists kidney and lung functions, and helps prevent calcium loss from your bones.

Taking the weight off

It’s sometimes necessary to take weight off of an injury so it can heal appropriately. A crutch does two things to assist in this:

  • Reduce weight load on one of your legs
  • Broaden your support base to improve your balance and stability

“When a patient is asked to remain non-weight-bearing, they assume that they cannot let their foot touch the ground,” Carl said. “We let them know that is OK to set their foot on the ground to help them keep their balance. Losing your balance can lead to putting all your weight on your extremity.”

Getting the right crutches fit

If you’re on crutches, you may hear horror stories of bruised armpits or terrible falls. One of the key things to remember when you get crutches is to make sure they fit properly. Here are a few helpful tips:

  • The top of the crutch should rest about four fingers under the armpit, not above.
  • You should also allow your hand to rest as you flex your elbow.
  • Check that the handle setting allows the elbow to be flexed about 30 degrees. If the elbow is not at 30 degrees, adjust the handles up or down till the elbow has the proper angle.

“When the crutches are adjusted correctly, you should be able to bear your weight through your hands,” he said.

When you’re using crutches, make sure you never support yourself with your armpits but instead use the handgrips for support. If you are struggling with how to make crutches more comfortable, you can purchase cushioned covers. Or you may consider an alternative like a wheelchair, a walker or knee walker.

Most of all, remember to take it one day at a time. When walking, don’t try to move too quickly and listen to your body when it may need to rest. Remember, crutches are usually a short-term treatment, and you should be back on both feet in no time.

Discover more tips for using crutches safely and effectively.

How to walk on crutches

Crutches are used to improve coordination and reduce stress on the legs by increasing support and transferring body weight to the upper torso and arms.

Elbow crutches

These crutches with an emphasis on the forearm serve as a support when walking for a person with injured or sore legs. The crutch looks like a high cane, reaching to the elbow joint and topped with a special flexible cuff. They are made of aluminum and have a stand, an emphasis-clamp and a handle. The height of the “Canadian” elbow crutches must correspond to the person’s height. The height of all underarm “Canadian” crutches can be adjusted. Although crutches of this type provide insufficient lateral support, they are smaller in size, more functional when climbing stairs. They can be used simultaneously with orthopedic appliances.

Instruction manual for learning to walk on underarm (Canadian) crutches

The use of crutches requires fairly good balance and coordination, as well as muscle strength. Therefore, it is preferable to use crutches for “young” patients for a short period of time.

A. You can start training only when the sick or injured person is already sitting with his legs down and gets out of bed on a healthy leg with the help of a support (headboard, table, etc.)

B. Before you stand on crutches, you need to adjust them (the design of the crutch allows you to set the desired length). You need to know how to properly hold the crutch:

  1. the crutch rest (i.e. hand rest) must be pointing with the free end forward;
  2. the cuff of the crutch should cover the forearm behind, slightly below the elbow joint of the correspondingly bent arm;
  3. The back of the person on crutches should be as straight as possible.

B. How to walk on crutches.

Insurance is required at all stages of training.

1. The patient stands on a healthy leg, holding on to a support, for example, a rectangular table, with one hand, and a crutch with the other.

Then:

  • brings the crutch forward to the stride length;
  • transfers the weight of his body to the crutch;
  • transfers the healthy leg to the stride length;
  • repeating all this over and over, moves along the table;
  • reaches the end of the table, turns around, swaps the crutch and support, and moves back in the same way.

2. The patient stands on a healthy leg, crutches are in both hands.

Then he:

  • brings one crutch forward a stride length;
  • brings the other crutch forward a stride length;
  • transfers its weight to the crutches;
  • shifts the healthy leg to the stride length;
  • repeats all this over and over again.

3. In the future, you can move on to walking when both crutches are brought forward at the same time.

When a person is standing with two crutches, they should be slightly apart – this gives the person more stability.

Axillary crutches

Made from lightweight wood or aluminium. Their design usually includes a platform for armpit support, a handle, a double bar that goes from below into one stand with a rubber tip with a diameter of 3-8 cm. Crutches may have clamps, screws or other devices that adjust their height.

Axillary crutches

They serve as a support when walking for a person with injured or sore legs.

The height of the axillary crutches must correspond to the height of the person. The height of all axillary crutches can be adjusted.

To determine the correct height, there are two reference points: the axillary bar should be 4-5 cm below the armpit

  • the forearm presses the crutch against the body
  • Wrist bar is at wrist height

The method for determining the correct selection of the height of the crossbar for support with a brush is as follows: in a standing position, with arms extended along the body, the handle of the crutch should reach the level of the watch on the wrist. Note: The use of crutches requires fairly good balance and coordination, as well as muscle strength. Therefore, it is preferable to use crutches for “young” patients for a short period of time.

A. You can start training only when the sick or injured person can already sit with his legs down and get out of bed on a healthy leg with the help of a support (headboard, table, etc.)

B. Before you stand on crutches, you need to adjust them (the design of the crutch allows you to set the desired length). You need to know how to properly hold the crutch: The upper part of the crutch should not rest against the armpit. The gap should be two fingers wide. The back of the person on crutches should be as straight as possible. The armrest of the crutch should be positioned so that there is an angle of approximately ten degrees at the elbow joint.

B. How to walk on crutches:

1. At all stages of training, safety net is necessary;

2. The patient stands on a healthy leg, holding on to a support, for example, a rectangular table, with one hand, and a crutch with the other.

Then:

  • brings the crutch forward to the stride length;
  • transfers the weight of his body to the crutch;
  • transfers the healthy leg to the stride length;
  • repeating all this over and over, moves along the table;
  • reaches the end of the table, turns around, swaps the crutch and support, and moves back in the same way.

3. The patient stands on a healthy leg, crutches are in both hands.

Then he:

  • brings one crutch forward a stride length;
  • brings the other crutch forward a stride length;
  • transfers its weight to the crutches;
  • shifts the healthy leg to the stride length;
  • repeats all this over and over again.

4. In the future, you can move on to walking when both crutches are brought forward at the same time.

When a person is standing with two crutches, they should be slightly apart – this gives the person more stability.

When using crutches of various types, remember that:

  • body weight should be carried on the arms and not on the armpits to avoid damage to the armpit;
  • maintain a wide base for support even when resting;
  • hold the crutches about 10 cm from the edge and in front of the leg;
  • When using underarm crutches, the support legs should be close to the chest for better balance;
  • Keep your head straight and maintain a level body position while walking.

The best position of the patient: the head is raised high, the back is straight, the healthy knee is slightly bent. For support, you can lean your back against the wall. The tips of the crutches are placed about 15 cm from the toes and slightly forward. If the patient has wide hips, it is better to move the tips to the side for a greater distance. The distance between the armpit and the top of the crutches should be about 2-3 fingers. The elbows are bent at an angle of 25-30 .. With a push, you can check whether the body easily comes off the floor. The arms should be almost straight. Crutch tolerance is tested during the walk.

In order to get up from a chair, crutches folded together are placed on the injured side and grasped from the inside. Then they throw them with the other hand over the chair, straighten the healthy leg.

To sit down, repeat the same movements, starting with placing two crutches on the injured side. Then the patient straightens his back and sits down. At the same time, he must be sure that the chair or chair does not swing.

When walking with crutches, both crutches are placed simultaneously 30 cm in front and 15-20 cm towards the toes. They carry, leaning on the handles, the weight of the body forward. You can swing on crutches. Land on the heel so that the crutches are behind the patient.

The shuttle gait is the easiest and safest for those who are starting to use crutches. You need to start by bringing the crutches forward, transfer the weight of the body forward, leaning on your hands, and slide in the same direction with your healthy leg.

When going up or down stairs, you can use the following method. The patient takes both crutches under one arm, holds them from the inside with his thumb. The other hand grabs the railing (hand slightly in front of the body).

When lifting, the crutches are left at the level where they stand. Then evenly distribute the body weight on the hand holding the crutch and on the railing. Raise the good leg up the step, leaving the bad leg behind, straighten the good leg and move the crutches forward.

When descending from the steps, crutches are placed on the lower step and the sore leg is pulled out. Then they evenly lean on the hand holding the crutches and on the railing. Move the healthy leg forward to the lower step. It is recommended to use this method when descending or ascending narrow stairs.

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