Posted by Winston Salem | Posted in Winston Salem Health | Posted on 24-09-2008
General Information
Crutches have been prescribed for you by your doctor to rest your injured leg / foot so that it may heal. The top of your crutch should be about two or three finger widths below your armpit when standing straight. It is very important not to lean your armpit on the top of the crutch because this can cause nerve damage.
Instrutions
- You should wear a sturdy, low-heeled shoe on your healthy leg/foot. Do not wear a slipper, high heel, sandal, or clog.
- For total non-weight bearing (keep injured leg/foot entirely off the floor, never placing any weight on it):
- Keep the injured leg/foot in front of you to provide better balance.
- Place both crutches forward at the same time, about 12 inches in front of and 6 to 8 inches on the side of your healthy foot.
- Place all of your weight on your hands and swing the healthy foot forward to the crutches or slightly beyond the crutches.
- For touch down, non-weight bearing (injured limb is allowed to touch very lightly on the floor):
- Place the crutches forward about 12 inches and about six to eight inches on the side of your healthy leg/foot.
- Place the injured foot or leg between the crutches, resting the foot lightly on the floor.
- Place all your weight on your hands and swing the healthy foot/leg forward to the crutches or slightly beyond the crutches.
- For partial weight-bearing (injured limb is allowed to have some weight):
- Do as prescribed in 3, however, place partial weight on the injured foot or leg as directed by your doctor.
- To sit:
- First, remove the crutches from under your arms.
- Place the crutches together on the injured side, using the hand grips to support your weight.
- Slide the injured leg/foot forward and reach for the chair seat with your free hand as you sit down.
- To walk on stairs:
- When going up, put your healthy leg/foot up first. Then, bring up the injured leg and then the crutches.
- If you are using a handrail on one side, place both crutches on the opposite side. If there is no handrail, use the crutches on both sides.
- When going down, put the crutches down first, then the injured leg and then the healthy leg.
