Crutches when you are non-weight bearing: A guide for patients

How do I stand from a seated position?

• Hold both your crutches in the opposite hand to your injured leg.
• Push up from the chair with the other hand and keep your injured leg off the ground.
• Once standing, transfer one crutch into the other hand.
• Put both crutches in front of you and get your balance.

How do I walk?

• Put both crutches forward, keeping your injured leg off the ground.
• Take your weight on to your hands and hop with your non-injured leg to the crutches.
• Move both crutches forward, to repeat.
• Resist the temptation to hop beyond your crutches as it will cause you to become unbalanced.

How do I sit down?

• Have the chair immediately behind you.
• Put both crutches into the opposite hand to your injured leg.
• Hold the chair arm with the other hand.
• Sit down, gently keeping your injured leg off the ground.

How do I get up steps and stairs?

• When attempting steps, always use a handrail if possible, holding both crutches in one hand. If there isn’t a handrail available, for example stepping up a kerb, use both crutches.
• Push on your crutches and hop on to the step with your non-injured leg, keeping your injured leg slightly behind.
• Bring your crutches on to the same step.

How do I get down steps and stairs?

• Put your crutches down on to the step below and hold your injured leg forward.
• Take your weight on to your hands.
• Hop down on to the same step with your non-injured leg.

Please note that crutches will be fitted properly within the podiatric surgery department and should not be adjusted in any way by the patient. If you have any problems please contact us.