How to properly walk up stairs on crutches. How to choose the right crutches and walk on them

Crutches are used for many musculoskeletal disorders. They help people who cannot move independently, as well as those who have contraindications for putting weight on their lower limbs.

There are special rules and features of using crutches that are important for every patient to know about.

Crutches are a special device that is used to support body weight when walking and standing when a person for some reason cannot do this on his own.

The structures eliminate the load on the sore leg and increase the area of support: when using them, a person protects himself from falling by adjusting his balance.

Devices are used when the functioning of the musculoskeletal system is impaired, which happens in the following cases:

The most common reason is lower limb injuries. We are talking about fractures, bruises, dislocations.
Development in patients muscle weakness in the legs due to various neurological pathologies - disorders of cerebral and spinal circulation, cerebellar ataxia, .
Impaired function of the lower extremities occurs as a result of certain infectious diseases that affect bone tissue - we are talking about polio and polio-like viruses.
Crutches may also be needed when pronounced degenerative changes in joints, what happens when .

Devices can be used for the elbow and armpit, for adults and for children. The structures are also custom-made for non-standard anatomical sizes of the patient (most often these are crutches for the elderly and for obese patients).

Crutches are also produced equipped with devices for their adjustment. These devices are made from various metals, plastics, and wood.

How to use them correctly

First you need to understand how to walk on crutches correctly, and then learn. When moving, the patient ensures that the injured limb is located between the crutches.

While walking, take a step with your healthy leg. In this case, the second limb is located behind in line with the supporting structures. Afterwards, the patient moves it along with the crutches so that they, along with the healthy leg, also become on the same line. When performing this maneuver, it is always important to follow the rule - the body weight is transferred to the uninjured lower limb.

Gradually, patients get used to such movement and use crutches without problems until the fragments heal and the function of independent walking is restored. Longer use of devices is required if the patient is overweight, after endoprosthetics and other surgical interventions, as well as in case of a lack of calcium in bone tissue.

Going up and down the stairs

It is important for all patients using walking aids to know how to climb up and down stairs with crutches correctly. Not all buildings are equipped with elevators, and visiting some institutions is inevitable.

Therefore, every person forced to walk in this way needs to learn simple rules:

During the descent, the crutches are moved to the lower step, after which the affected limb is moved. The healthy leg is placed last. During the descent, you should not swing your crutches too wide, and you should not bend your torso too much forward, otherwise the risk of imbalance and loss of balance increases.
During the ascent, the healthy limb is placed on the step first, followed by the sick one. The crutches are transferred last.
When moving up the stairs, you must follow the following recommendations: you should not jump over the steps, it is better to take small steps. You can also lean on the railing.

The greatest load should fall on the uninjured lower limb.

How to switch from crutches to a cane

As the condition improves, the patient feels an increase in strength in the injured leg. If rehabilitation is successful, doctors allow the transition to the next stage - walking with one crutch or using a cane.

Patients often need to switch to one crutch or cane after fractures of the lower extremities and joint replacement surgeries (endoprosthetics). In some cases, it is morally difficult for the patient to take such a step. In such situations (and not only) you need to explain to him in detail how to reach this stage in accordance with all the rules and safely.

How to switch from crutches to a cane after endoprosthetics or injury? First you need to select a device. Its handle should be at the level of the slightly bent wrist joint. First of all, the cane stabilizes balance; the weight is transferred to it in a small volume. It should be held on the side of the uninjured leg.

The load on the injured limb increases as the condition improves, which helps the leg recover completely and return to its previous range of movements.

Conclusion

The use of crutches and canes requires compliance with special rules, simple, but mandatory. The patient should listen carefully to the instructor and comply with all requirements, in which case he will quickly learn a new method of movement. This will help him recover as soon as possible without any complications.

For injuries, fractures, joint diseases and some other problems with the legs, experts recommend the use of a cane or crutches. They allow you to reduce the load when moving. But not everyone knows that it is necessary to select and use support products according to certain rules, otherwise they can cause harm.

Let's take a closer look at how to walk on crutches correctly and what methods exist for selecting them.

Crutches are devices for supporting the human body in an upright position when moving and standing. They are required by those who temporarily or permanently require additional support, and allow you to increase its area.

Indications for use of this design are:

leg injuries (leg, joint, soft tissue bruises);
paralytic changes as a result of disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system (intervertebral disc herniation, spinal atrophy, ataxia, polyneuropathy);
bone damage due to poliomyelitis;
joint degeneration with and.

It is important! Crutches are often necessary for older people whose muscles have developed muscle atrophy as a result of age-related changes.

How to walk on crutches correctly

When walking with crutches, the first step should be taken with the healthy leg, and at this time the injured limb forms one line with the supports. Then they are simultaneously moved to the healthy leg.

At the end, the person stands, leaning fully, crutches and limbs should be located on the same line. The most important thing is that the body weight falls on the healthy leg, and not on the injured one.

At first, such movement may cause some difficulties, but gradually the person gets used to it and can move quite quickly. You should continue to use the devices as long as a gentle regime is necessary.. When the bone fragments grow together and it becomes possible to walk independently, the need for support disappears.

Long-term use of crutches becomes necessary after endoprosthetics surgery (joint replacement), if a person has a large body weight or the bone structure is impaired.

You should choose crutches according to the following rules:

Use the usual one to determine the height of the product.
The pads should not rest on the armpits. It is best if the gap is 4 cm.
The handle should be at palm level when standing with a straight back.
You should get used to walking gradually. If you feel tired, you need to rest and continue the next day.

If a person does not feel stable balance while leaning on crutches, a specialist may suggest using a walker. For weakened older people, crutches may not be suitable due to weakness of the muscles of the upper shoulder girdle. In this case, it is recommended to purchase a wheelchair.

Descent and ascent

Particular attention should be paid to how to climb up and down stairs using a double-sided support. Not all clinics or other buildings have an elevator. When descending you need to move as follows:

First, crutches are placed on the step;
step between them with a healthy limb;
the sore leg comes last.

It is important! During the descent, you should not swing the supports too much and sharply tilt your body. This will cause you to lose your balance and fall. You need to perform turns on your healthy leg.

When lifting, you should behave like this:

put a healthy leg;
after her - the patient;
crutches are placed last.

During movement, it is necessary to place the main support on the hands. If this rule is not followed, then the armpits become chafed. You can use a sock or towel to soften the pads. Pressure in the armpit can lead to loss of sensation in the arm, but this phenomenon quickly resolves once the cause is eliminated.

Strong squeezing of the handle causes numbness and cramps in the fingers. The symptom can be eliminated if you open your hand a little so that when you lift the crutch it falls into your hand.

It is best to take a regular backpack as a bag when using the support. This will help you avoid falling onto your side and increasing the load on your sore leg.

If you need to sit down, fold the crutches, lean on the chair with your free hand and slowly lower yourself onto it. The support is on the healthy limb, the sore leg is in a bent state.

Switching to a cane

After using crutches, as they heal and recover, some patients may need to switch to single support - one crutch or a cane.

There is a rule on how to switch from crutches to a cane after endoprosthetics or trauma. First you need to choose the right device. The level of the handle should correspond to the level of the slightly bent wrist joint.

The main task of the cane is not only to reduce the load, but also to provide solid balance. When walking, it is located on the healthy side.

The features of walking with one crutch or cane on stairs are the same as when using two supports. As a person recovers, muscle tone is restored, and the need to maintain balance gradually disappears.

Conclusion

Walking with crutches and a cane does not require special skills. However, you should carefully study a few simple rules for using these products in order to improve your condition and speed up rehabilitation.

In contact with

Orthopedic traumatologist, first category surgeon, Research Institute, 2009

Our lives are replete with unexpected and potentially traumatic situations. Ice and snow, apartment renovation work, walking on stairs and rough terrain, playing sports - this is just a small list of places and reasons that can result in damage to the limbs.

High-quality treatment of fractures and dislocations is the key to a full life after recovery and it must be carried out in full. For movement during treatment, the patient is prescribed special medical rehabilitation means, and the question of how to walk on crutches during a fracture becomes very relevant. We will answer it in the article.

Crutches are medical devices designed to provide mobility to patients during treatment or rehabilitation. They are prescribed in the following situations:

Diseases of the limbs;
Consequences of injuries;
Musculoskeletal disorders.
Physiological disturbances in the functioning of the body.

Crutches have been known to mankind since time immemorial. They were used back in Ancient Egypt and the design has remained virtually unchanged. These devices consist of two sticks diverging at the top and connecting at the bottom, intercepted in the middle by a crossbar for the hand and an axillary roller in the upper part.

The material from which crutches are made also varies. They can be wooden, made of aluminum or plastic. There are axillary devices and designs with emphasis on the elbow, also called canadians.

The treatment time for fractures is quite long. During this time, the patient moves with the help of medical devices, and the restriction of movement on the injured limb is regulated by the recommendations of the attending physician.

For various hip fractures, the treatment period can last up to 4 months, during which surgery is performed, skeletal traction and external fixation devices are recommended.

We see that learning to walk correctly on crutches after a hip fracture is very important, since this period can be significant.

It will then take an average of 1 to 2 months in a cast before you can start walking without crutches. In some cases, if the course of the disease is unfavorable, a cast and restriction of movement can last up to six months. And after a broken ankle, you also need to figure out how to walk correctly on crutches.

A femoral neck injury may also require treatment lasting more than 2 months. For older people, plaster is applied even for a longer period, because... their recovery process is slower.

How to choose and adjust crutches correctly

The main types of crutches - aluminum and wood - are made strong, reliable and slightly different from each other in weight. Wooden ones are only slightly heavier than aluminum ones. Both types can withstand weights of up to 140-150 kg, and the reinforced aluminum structure can support a patient weighing more than 200 kg.

To correctly adjust the structures, follow this algorithm:

Learning to walk

Our crutches are adjusted. It's time to learn how to walk on crutches with a broken leg. Before you start moving, get ready, ask a relative, friend, nurse or doctor to help and secure you.

Remember that you should only start learning to walk if you are already able to sit freely. Also make sure that you can stand comfortably on your healthy leg and lean on the bedside table, headboard or other handholds.

Take the crutches in your hands. Stand them up straight and make sure your legs are next to your feet, your armpit pads are under your arms, and your arms are on the hand bar.

Shift your body weight to your healthy leg, lean on crutches and keep your broken leg suspended. Feel this position and get used to it.

Before you take a step, return your weight to your healthy leg. Move the crutches a little forward - 20-25 cm - and spread your legs a little wider. Next, lean on the crutches and transfer your body weight to your arms. Bring your healthy leg forward and step on it. Move like a pendulum! Don't place your crutches too far from where you are. A long step will be ahead of you. For now, you need to learn to walk in small steps and gain initial skills and confidence.

Climbing and descending stairs

The stairs remain a necessary and dangerous obstacle for the patient. Therefore, it is important to learn how to learn to walk on crutches up stairs with a broken leg.

A new fall in this situation is completely unnecessary and a certain skill, coupled with caution, will be very useful.

Remember the important condition for safe ascent and descent. The crutches should be held together in one hand, with the other resting on the railing.

When rising, perform the following movements:

Place your healthy leg one step higher;
Place your sore leg on the same step;
Move the crutches to a new step.

The descent will require the following algorithm:

Place the crutches on the step below;
Place your sore leg there;
Finish the maneuver by moving your healthy leg.

While on the stairs, you should not rush and should carefully maintain your balance, balancing between the crutches and the railing.

Do you understand how to walk correctly? on crutches for a fracture and learned how to do it in practice. Now remember a few more tips that can make movement easier, simplify the rehabilitation period and speed up recovery.

If you need to get up from a stool, proceed as follows. Place the crutches on the side of your injured leg and grab them from the inside. Then throw the crutches over a chair or stool and straighten your healthy leg.

The beginning of the movement can be shuttle walking. In this case, the crutches are moved forward, the body “settles” on them, and the legs are dragged along the ground.

On difficult surfaces - slippery, full of unevenness and obstacles, choose the tactic of small steps.

With this movement, it is easy to adapt to changes in the landscape and correct a possible mistake in the incorrect placement of a leg or crutch. Be careful! Driving on crutches is sensitive to unevenness in the road. The slightest pebble or small hole can become a big problem if not noticed in time. In ordinary life, we are used to not noticing such little things, but here they are extremely important and attentiveness will be the key to successfully overcoming any distance.

Choose shoes based on one criterion - comfort. Beauty can wait. Heels or soles with difficult terrain can become a threat to stability and lead to irreparable consequences - falls and new injuries.

Take breaks. The body is not accustomed to such loads - the arms and shoulders perform unusual work, the muscles are not ready for contractions of this kind. The legs also experience unexpected stress. If you feel tired, rest, even if you have walked a distance that seems insignificant to you.

Carry things in backpacks. They help relieve your hands from unnecessary functions of supporting wearable things and make it possible to evenly load both shoulders and eliminate excess weight on one side, which can cause a fall.

This set of factors allows you to achieve the correct technique for walking on crutches and facilitate the rehabilitation process, making the complex of therapeutic measures the most effective and fast!

If you have injured your ankle or knee, or broken your leg, your doctor will likely recommend that you use crutches throughout your recovery. Crutches are support devices that help relieve stress on your injured leg while you stand or walk. They help a person maintain balance and more safely engage in normal activities while the injury is still healing. In some cases, it is more convenient to use only one crutch, because it is a little easier to move around in the environment, in addition, one of the hands is freed up, which allows you to perform some manipulations with it, for example, carry a bag of groceries. A single crutch may also be more convenient for climbing stairs if they have railings for additional support. However, it should be remembered that using only one crutch places some stress on the injured leg and slightly increases the possible risk of falling. Basically, if you want to use one crutch, you should talk to your doctor about it first.

Steps

Part 1

Walking on a flat surface

Place the crutch in the armpit of the arm on your healthy side. When using one crutch, you will have to decide which side to place it on. Professional traumatologists recommend installing a crutch under the arm on the side of the healthy leg, or, in other words, on the opposite side of the injured leg. Hold the crutch under your arm and grasp the handle, located approximately in the middle of the crutch.
- Using a crutch on the healthy side allows you to tilt your body away from the injured area in order to place less stress on it. However, to walk on one crutch you will have to some load on the injured side with each step.
- Depending on your specific injury, your doctor may decide that you don't want to put weight on your injured side, in which case you will need to use two crutches or a wheelchair. Be sure to follow the recommendations of the traumatologist so that the recovery process follows the best possible scenario.
- Adjust the height of the crutch so that, while standing, you can fit at least three fingers into the space between the top support bar and your armpit. Adjust the position of the crutch handle so that it is level with the wrist of your free-hanging hand.
Learn how to place a crutch correctly. Once the crutch is properly adjusted (or fitted) and placed on your healthy side, rest the bottom end of the crutch on the floor 7.5-10 cm (to the side) from the midpoint of the outer edge of the foot to ensure stability. Most, if not all, of your weight should be supported by a straight arm with a crutch, as excess stress on the armpit can lead to pain and possible nerve pinching.
- There should be soft pads on the support bar and the handle of the crutch. These pads will provide a more secure grip on the crutch and will also serve as shock absorbers to some extent while walking.
- Avoid wearing bulky shirts or jackets when walking with a crutch as this may limit your mobility and stability.
- If the injured leg is in a cast or splint, it would be wise to put shoes with a slightly raised heel on the healthy leg so that there is not much difference between the two legs. Equal leg lengths provide greater stability and reduce the risk of hip or back pain.
Prepare to take the step. In preparation for walking, you need to move the crutch forward about 60 cm and at the same time step forward with your injured leg. Then bring your healthy leg forward past the crutch, holding the crutch firmly by the handle with your outstretched hand. To move forward, continue to repeat the above steps: step with the crutch and the injured leg, and then bring your good leg forward past the crutch.
- Remember to maintain your balance by placing most of your weight on the crutch when you walk with your injured leg.
- Be careful and take your time when walking with one crutch. Make sure that you have a secure surface under your feet and that there are no obstacles in the way that could interfere with you, make sure that there are no randomly scattered things under your feet and that any rugs that could cause slipping are removed. Give yourself extra time to get from one place to another.
- Refrain from supporting your body weight under the armpit to avoid pain, pinched nerves, and/or any shoulder injury.
Part 2
Climbing and descending stairs
1. See if the stairs have railings. In fact, walking up stairs with two crutches is a much more difficult task than with one. However, you can only climb stairs with one crutch if they have railings or handrails. Even when stairs have railings, make sure they provide good support and are securely in place to support your weight.
  - If the stairs don't have railings, you'll have to use two crutches or a lift, or ask someone for help.
  - When the stairs are equipped with a handrail, you can grab them with one hand and simply carry your crutch (or both crutches) with the other on the way up - sometimes climbing without using crutches at all can be easier and/or faster.
2. To climb stairs, grab the railing with the hand on the side of your injured leg. When going up the stairs, hold the crutch under the armpit of your arm on the side of your healthy side, and grab the railing with your hand on the side of your injured leg. At the same time, lean on the railing on one side and on the crutch on the other, and then step forward with your healthy leg. Next, pull up your injured leg and place the crutch next to your healthy leg on the same step. Repeat the above steps until you reach the very top, just be careful and take your time.
  - If possible, you may want to practice this skill with a physical therapist first.
  - If the stairs have no railings, there is no elevator nearby, and there is no one nearby to help you, and you desperately need to climb up, try using the wall of the stairs as support in the same way as if you were using a railing.
  - Take extra time to climb steep flights of stairs and narrow steps, especially if you have large feet or wear a foot splint.
3. Use extreme caution when going down stairs. Descending stairs on two or one crutches is potentially more dangerous than climbing up because of the height from which you can fall if you accidentally lose your balance. The essence of the descent is to firmly grasp the railing and first step onto the step below with the injured leg, and then lower the crutch from the side of the healthy side and the healthy leg. However, be careful not to put too much stress on your sore leg, as the sudden onset of pain may make you feel nauseous or dizzy. Always keep your balance and take your time. Repeat the above steps, first walking with the injured leg, then with the healthy one, and so on all the way to the bottom of the stairs.
  - Remember that the order of steps for going down the stairs is opposite their order during ascent.
  - Pay attention to any objects located on the steps that might get in your way.
  - When going down stairs, it is always best to ask someone for help if at all possible and applicable to your situation.
- Carry personal items on your back in a backpack. This will free up your hands and allow you to better maintain your balance when walking with one crutch.
- Maintain proper posture while walking. Otherwise, you may experience pain in your hips or back, making it even more difficult to use a crutch.
- Wear comfortable shoes with rubber soles for better traction on the ground. Avoid flip-flops, sandals or dress shoes with slippery soles.
- Consider the additional time it takes to get from one place to another on crutches.
- If you lose your balance, try to fall on your uninjured side, as it will more easily absorb the impact of the fall.
Warnings
- If you have any doubts, such as whether you can walk down certain steps safely, always err on the side of caution and seek help.
- Be especially careful when walking on wet or uneven surfaces, or in snow or ice.
- Also make sure that the crutch is not too short in relation to your armpit. Otherwise, it may slip out of your armpit and cause you to lose your balance and even fall.

Serious leg injuries require walking on crutches during the recovery period so as not to put stress on the feet, legs and knees. Before you learn to walk on crutches, you need to know the rules for choosing them and setting them up for a specific person.

How to walk on crutches correctly and is it difficult?

Selection rules

The main rule: the length of the crutches must be equal to the patient’s height minus 40 cm. Depending on the length and purpose, crutches are divided into three types:

Children's (90−116 cm);

Teenage (116−127 cm);

Adults (120−150 cm).

There are other rules for setting up crutches to make them comfortable to move around.

Firstly, the axillary roll should be 5 cm below the armpit.

Secondly, the height of the part for supporting the hands should be slightly higher than the wrist. In this case, the elbow should be bent at approximately 30 degrees. These rules apply to axillary crutches.

There are also crutches for the elbow. When choosing them, pay attention to the location of the cuff. It should be at a distance of 6-7 cm from the sharp point of the elbow (with average height). The elbow is bent at an angle of 15-20 degrees.

Rules of movement: how to walk on crutches correctly

So, the means of transportation has been chosen, now another question arises: how to properly walk on crutches. The tactics for moving forward depend on the direction of walking. If you need to go straight, follow this algorithm:

1. Bring the crutches forward, leaning on the healthy lower limb from behind.

2. The injured leg is carefully moved forward and, if possible, leaned on it a little.

3. After making sure that the mobility aids are secure and solid, transfer your body weight to them.

4. Place the healthy lower limb in front of the damaged one a couple of centimeters.

These rules are easy to follow if the road is level and straight. If you need to climb up or down, you need to be careful to ensure that your body weight is midway between the mobility aids and the healthy lower limb. Otherwise, you can easily fall.