How to Walk With Crutches Correctly (Partial Weight-Bearing)
This instructional video shows how to walk with crutches while putting partial weight on the injured leg. It's important to remember which leg goes first when walking with crutches partial weight-bearing. You will also learn how to use crutches properly when going up and down stairs, standing and sitting down.
Follow your doctor's weight-bearing instructions by only putting the amount of weight ordered by your doctor onto your injured leg.
To sit in a chair, back up until you feel the chair on the back of your legs. Place both crutches in the hand of your injured side. Hold your injured leg out in front of you as you reach back for the chair with your other hand. Lower yourself slowly to the chair bending at your hips. Do the reverse to stand back up.
Walking With Crutches Partial Weight-Bearing
When you walk with crutches, it is important that you keep the crutches under your arms and close to your sides. Squeeze the top of the crutches into your sides while putting weight on your hands and not through your armpits. Do not lean on the crutches with your armpits.
Move the crutches forward six to 12 inches. Push down on the handgrips as you step forward with your injured leg. Put the designated weight on your injured leg. Then, step through with your healthy leg. The injured leg always steps through first before the healthy leg. The sequence of how to walk with crutches properly is: crutches forward, injured leg forward, then step through with the healthy leg.
Using Stairs With Crutches Partial Weight-Bearing
To go upstairs, begin close to the bottom step. Step up with your healthy leg first. Then, lift up the crutches, followed by the injured leg. Check your balance before you continue. If there is a sturdy handrail available, you can place both crutches under one arm and use the handrail with the other. Remember, step up with the good foot first and then the crutches. Lastly, the injured foot or leg follows.
When going down stairs with crutches, start at the edge of the step, keeping your hips beneath you. Place your crutches on the lower step. Your injured leg goes down next. The healthy leg is last. Check your balance before you continue. Make sure you bend at the hips and knees to prevent leaning forward, which could cause you to fall. If there is a sturdy handrail available, hold both crutches under one arm and use the handrail with the other arm. Place the crutches on the lower step. Your injured leg goes down next, and the healthy leg is last.
