Hospital(s)
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center

Crutch Walking

Walking (Touch-down weight bearing):

  • Put the crutches forward about one step's length.
  • Put the injured leg forward; level with the crutch tips.
  • Touch the front of the foot of the involved limb to the floor. Do not bear weight into the foot, but bear the weight of the body on your crutches.
  • Take a step through with the uninjured leg

Walking (partial-weight bearing):

  • Put the crutches forward about one step's length.
  • Put the injured leg forward; level with the crutch tips.
  • Bear some of the weight on the injured leg according to your instructions, and bear the remainder of your weight on crutches.
  • Take a step through with the uninjured leg

Walking (full-weight bearing and weight-bearing as tolerated):

  • Follow the same sequence as partial-weight bearing, except you can bear the weight of the body through the injured leg, assisting with the crutches as needed.

Walking with one crutch

  • Put the injured leg forward with the crutch held on the uninjured side (opposite)
  • Bear weight on the injured leg and assisted with the crutch as needed.
  • Step through with the uninjured leg.

Stairs:

  • Use one crutch and the stair rail if present (only if the railing is stable and there is someone to carry the other crutch).
  • Use two crutches if there is no stair rail.
  • It does not matter which side the stair rail is on.
  • If both crutches can be held in one hand safely, you can use both crutches on one side and the railing on the other.

Upstairs:

  • Hold onto the rail with one hand and the crutch with the other hand (or both crutches if no rail).
  • Push down on the stair rail and the crutch(es) and step up with the uninjured leg
  • Bring the injured leg and the crutches up beside the uninjured leg.
  • Remember, the uninjured leg goes up first and the crutches move with the injured leg.

Downstairs:

  • Walk to the edge of the stairs.
  • Place the injured leg and the crutches down on the step below; support weight by leaning on the crutch(es) and the stair rail.
  • Bring the uninjured leg down.
  • With your weight supported by the crutches and injured leg, step down with the uninjured leg.
  • Remember the injured leg goes down first and the crutches move with the injured leg.