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crutches

How to Use Crutches Safely After a Knee Injury

Safe crutch use starts with your prescribed weight-bearing status. Learn how to check fit, walk, sit, handle stairs, and reduce fall hazards.

By VGSources Team 4 min read
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Use crutches according to the weight-bearing instructions given for your specific knee injury. Before walking, confirm whether you are non-weight-bearing, toe-touch, partial-weight-bearing, or weight-bearing as tolerated; these instructions allow different amounts of contact and pressure through the injured leg. If you are unsure what you were told, contact your treating clinician or physiotherapist before putting weight on it.

Check your instructions and crutch fit before walking

Your clinician’s weight-bearing instructions determine how you should move. MedlinePlus distinguishes non-weight-bearing, toe-touch, partial-weight-bearing, and weight-bearing as tolerated; these are not interchangeable. Follow the instructions you were given rather than inferring what is safe from a general guide.

Ask a clinician or physiotherapist to check your crutches, especially if they were issued to you or you have not used them before. General fitting guidance varies slightly: MedlinePlus says the top should sit 1 to 1½ inches (2.5 to 4 cm) below the armpits, with handles at hip level and elbows slightly bent; the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) describes about 1 to 2 inches below the armpits and handgrips level with the top of the hip line. These are fit checks, not a substitute for an individual assessment.

With underarm crutches, support your body through your hands on the handles, not by leaning on the pads. As MedlinePlus puts it, “Let your hands carry your weight, not your armpits.” Check that the rubber tips are clean and not worn, and that the crutches have no damage or loose fittings.

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Walk using the pattern that matches your weight-bearing status

Stand upright, look ahead, and move deliberately. The exact sequence depends on how much weight your clinician has allowed on the injured leg.

If you have been told not to put weight on the injured leg

  1. Move both crutches forward together, keeping the injured leg lifted clear of the floor.
  2. Support yourself through your hands and arms on the handles.
  3. Bring the unaffected leg forward between or just beyond the crutches, as instructed, and regain your balance before the next step.

If some contact or weight is allowed

For toe-touch or partial-weight-bearing instructions, place the affected foot only as directed, alongside the crutches, and keep within the limit your treating team gave you. Weight-bearing as tolerated is a separate instruction: it does not mean you should ignore pain or assume the same step pattern applies to every injury. Ask your clinician or physiotherapist to demonstrate the pattern for your specific restriction if it is unclear.

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Take small steps when turning and pivot on the stronger leg rather than twisting on the injured one. Slow down if you feel off balance.

Sit down and stand up without losing your balance

Use a stable chair with armrests if available. Keep the injured leg positioned according to your weight-bearing instructions throughout the transfer.

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  1. Back up until you feel the chair at the backs of your knees.
  2. Hold both crutches together in one hand, leaving the other hand free to reach for the chair arm or seat.
  3. Lower yourself slowly, using the chair for support and protecting the injured leg as instructed.
  4. To stand, move toward the front of the seat. Push up from the chair with your free hand while keeping the injured leg in its prescribed position.
  5. Once steady, place one crutch in each hand before walking.

Use stairs only with a method you have been shown

Stairs require separate instruction; do not assume they are safe for you simply because you can walk on level ground. MedlinePlus recommends waiting until you are ready and practising with another person. AAOS also advises having someone nearby while learning and notes that stair use requires strength and flexibility. The treating team’s demonstration should decide which method to use for your injury and abilities.

  • Use a handrail and have a helper nearby if your clinician or physiotherapist directs you to use step-by-step stair technique.
  • If you feel unsteady, ask your treating team whether seated movement on the stairs or another form of assistance is appropriate. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identifies moving on the bottom as its safest option, but that does not make it the right choice for every person or setting.
  • Do not practise alone if you have not yet learned the technique or are unsure how to protect the injured leg.

Make your home and crutches safer

  • Clear loose rugs, curled rug corners, cords, clutter, and spills from your routes. Keep floors dry and pathways well lit.
  • Wear supportive, flat shoes with non-slip soles.
  • Keep frequently used items within reach. Carry essentials in a backpack or another hands-free bag so your hands remain available for the crutches.
  • Check the rubber tips regularly and replace them when worn. Look for structural damage, loose fittings, and wear around adjustment holes.
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Know when to seek medical help

Contact your treating team if your weight-bearing instructions are unclear or you cannot use the crutches safely. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advises people under its NHS guidance to contact NHS 111 if symptoms are not improving or pain is increasing. University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust lists increasing calf tenderness, redness, warmth, or swelling in one leg among possible signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT); its leaflet advises emergency care for chest pain or breathlessness. These contact routes are specific to the UK—use the appropriate urgent-care or emergency service where you live.

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