Walking with Crutches

Importance of proper crutch posture

Before learning how to adjust to walking with your crutches, it is important to make sure they are properly fitted. If your crutches are too high, it may be difficult to walk comfortably and it may feel like you are hopping too much with each step. If your crutches are too short, it may lead to you leaning too far forward and this could cause back pain, shoulder pain, or neck pain. Proper crutch set up is vital in order to lessen pressure and the amount of weight you bear on an injured leg. Our physiotherapists can assist you with properly setting up your crutches.

How to walk with crutches

Healing from an injury takes time. Take a look at these progressions from walking with full support from the crutches to crutch free!

Non-weight-bearing regular steps: Using both crutches with the injured foot having no contact with the ground

Partial-weight-bearing tip toe steps: Using both crutches with the injured foot having minimal contact with the ground via the tip toes

Partial-weight-bearing regular steps: Using both crutches with the injured foot walking through a regular step pattern with partial weight stood on it

Full-weight-bearing regular steps: Using both crutches with the injured foot having full weight contact with the ground completing regular steps

Full-weight-bearing regular steps (one crutch on non-injured side): Using the crutch on the non-injured side, step through with the injured foot with full weight stood on it

PhysioMax Wellness is a Physiotherapy clinic located in Burlington, Ontario. PhysioMax Wellness offers; physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy and more. We use manual therapies as well as various modalities to improve the rate of healing from injuries. Our goal is to work with you and for you to create personalized plans to recover from injuries and help your reach your health goals for conditions you may have.

Julia de Reijke RKin, CSEP-CPT, BASc Kinesiology (Hons), DipFTHP