How To Use Crutches Properly - The Nebraska Medical Center

[TheMrSkaterboy14]

My doctor said don't use them on stairs

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@TheMrSkaterboy14 Best to follow your doctor's advice. We're not there with you and your doctor is, so definitely go with those orders.

[JRBouncerz2010]

I got crutches today after me knee locked. The crutches I have are different from these ones though. Will these things still work with my crutches?

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@JRBouncerz2010 These guidelines should still work, but double check with your doctor or physical therapist before trying advanced things like going up stairs.

[mileyrocks1234ify]

Can you be 9 to get crutches?

[MilkyYUan]

Do you mind if i used this video in my school presentation??

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@MilkyYUan We don't mind at all - please feel free to use this. Hope it helps!

[MilkyYUan]

@NebraskaMedCenter thanks a lot~~

[kathiemt]

I broke my leg 12 days ago - slowly learning to use crutches. Thanks for this video.

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@kathiemt sorry you're spending the holidays on crutches. Glad the video helped. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[kathiemt]

@NebraskaMedCenter thanks for your message. Do you have any clips on how to get in and out of a car? I've not had any success finding clips to help me.

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@kathiemt Sorry, we don't have a video on that. Maybe your doctor or physical therapist (if you have one) can help?

[lifebegins1]

I have different type of crutches, the ones where you rest on your hand not armpits(I am in UK)....anyway the principles are the same :)

Sprained ankle 360 degrees, thats the sides the front and the back. I know, Ouch!!!!

Anyway Nice Video

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@lifebegins1 Ouch indeed! Thanks for the comment and hope you're feeling better.

[smartcrutchusa]

Great video! We have a lot of long term underarm crutch users that have sustained injuries from improper use.

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@smartcrutchusa Thanks for the comment! Glad we could help. We have a few other physical therapy related videos that might be helpful to your clients as well - feel free to share!

[Mediatechification]

Thank You!

[lianefox]

Hello, Thank you for this video. In the section for stairs, you commented "if" the stairway has a railing and showed us how to use the crutches with the railing.

I am having a Periacetabular Osteotomy in a few weeks and one major requirement before I can go home from the hospital is to be able to go up/down stairs with crutches. How would you go up/down safely if there was no railing?

Thanks for this video!

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@lianefox If you have a physical therapist you've been seeing, ask them first - they know your situation best. It might be worth installing a railing. You don't want to fall! You may also consider putting in a ramp. If those two options won't work, see if you can get someone to "spot" you as you're going up the stairs. The sequence is the same (good leg up; both crutches and affected leg up). Most of all, be careful!

[dwgjr330]

hey do you guys have any tips for getting through door frames that dont have railings, and often have a slanted step- i wiped out the other day because i was off balance- didn't know if there is a recommended way

[Vanishedful]

What if your to tall for the crutches ?

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@Vanishedful If you're not able to adjust your crutches to go high enough, ask your doctor's office or physical therapist about finding some "tall crutches." 

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@Vanishedful If you're not able to adjust your crutches to go high enough, ask your doctor's office or physical therapist about finding some "tall crutches."

[MrFootballhog]

My armpits hurt from walking on the crutches

[18ajake]

@MrFootballhog my palms hurts from using crutches...

[patriciozabala]

Gracias!

[runthroughthewoods]

i hate crutches! does it get easier?

[ojneb12]

Thank you so much

[Glittergirl05]

what if both legs are affected? my left foot is broke, the right is sprained....im having a very hard time using because i can not move the right properly, that is take a proper step, i can hop though. which resulted in me falling today...

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@Glittergirl05 That's a tough one. If you have a physical therapist you've worked with, it's probably best to ask them. They may have a way to help the sprained foot while the broken foot heals. Or certainly ask your doctor - they don't want you falling down anymore.

[Selrise]

@Glittergirl05 Maybe a wheelchair if both feet are injured.

[Danaproductionz]

This video is a life savior! I got my crutches yesterday. After watching your video i realized i wasnt doing some things right! Thank you for posting this!:) It has become alot easier!

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@Danaproductionz So glad it was helpful! Here's to a quick recovery.

[QuickMedical]

nice video

[clusmby12]

thanky you. i jusy got crutches and this helped me how to use them

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@clusmby12 Glad we could help! Thanks for watching.

[Suesster11]

Thanks for a very helpful video...I will be having foot surgery next month and will be non weight-bearing for 2 months. I am AARP age, too, with arthritis in both knees, so I was especially interested in the getting up and down! At least my home is a ranch, so I dodged the stairs bullet! ;)

[KangarooCdub]

Thank you very much for this post. Cant believe i was using my crutches wrong.

[Dmizzle0]

wow thanks for the vid... i just tore my ACL on Friday and i never used crutches until now.

[MrNotgangster]

HOW DO I PARALLEL PARK ON CRUTCHES?

[Dmizzle0]

@MrNotgangster lol

[bigbangsean]

how do we get up and down stairs with no railing

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@bigbangsean Lisa says: Ideally, he/she should put weight through both crutches and use both crutches up and down each step. The sequence is the same (good leg up; both crutches and affected leg up). If balance is a concern, someone should stand downhill, a step or two, to "spot" the patient. If the step is still too difficult, I'd recommend installing a railing or a second step to "halve" the height of the big step (if there's only one). Temporary ramps might also be an option."

[danf2k9]

I just tore two ligaments in my foot & ankle at school yesterday, so painful!

[JShahlo]

I just broke my ankle on monday..the back part of my foot still hurts with the stint, not to mention I broke the "Good side" so my left side is weaker..I think I may be doing it wrong though but I'm following this vid.

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@JShahlo Hang in there! Hopefully it will get easier.

[carcarpickles27]

i use crutches because i have an injured leg and i am using it properly, but my hands hurt when i am using it :/

[okgo43]

i broke my right hand and my left ankle. this is gonna be tough.

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@okgo43 Ouch! That's a tough injury. Good luck - your physical therapist may have some suggestions on how to cope.

[love2rocknroll4711]

I am on crutches at the moment with a broken hip I wasnt sure if I was using them right but I dont have those crutches I have the ones with the bits that you put you arms into

[yoyoamanda1]

my leg hurts so i do not know if i need crutches or not

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@yoyoamanda1 Best to check with your doctor or physical therapist.

[yoyoamanda1]

@NebraskaMedCenter ok

[ItsCabby]

What if there aren't any railings on the stairs? We have a pretty big step on all the doors going outside at our home. Stepping down is easy, but there are no railings to use going up and no weight can be put on my affected foot

[NebraskaMedCenter]

@ItsCabby Thanks for the question. Lisa says: Ideally, he/she should put weight through both crutches and use both crutches up and down each step. The sequence is the same (good leg up; both crutches and affected leg up). If balance is a concern, someone should stand downhill, a step or two, to "spot" the patient. If the step is still too difficult, I'd recommend installing a railing or a second step to "halve" the height of the big step (if there's only one). Temporary ramps are available

[ThisIsHafiy]

God bless this video! Really helped alot! The physiotherapist taught me the wrong thing!

You shown on the segment ' How do I stand up' just like how you demostrate. I underwent Calcaneum ORIF on my right feet. so I have only left leg to hold my weight. The therapist demo me positioned the crutches on my left side before getting up. And I tried following you position it on my right side, its more efficient.

Thank you!

[098890jwd]

thx so much

[estelio16]

This was really helpful... Thanks much!

[NebraskaMedCenter]

Thanks for the kind comments! We're glad this video helped.

[MultiKhaikhai]

This really helped me, thanks!

[rockridgeconstantine]

This is a well done video.

[wintersolstice53]

Thanks for a great video

[porn1978]

This was a really GOOD video!