What are crutches?
Crutches are a pair of supports used to take some or all of the weight off one leg while it heals. They are given after a fracture, an ankle sprain or an operation.
The doctor or surgeon tells you how much weight the leg can take, and the physiotherapist teaches you how to walk and climb steps with them.
Why does it matter for a patient or family?
Used well, crutches keep you moving safely. Used badly, they can cause falls, sore hands and underarm pressure. A quick check at the start is worth the time.
Your physiotherapist adjusts the height and shows the walking pattern for your rule, whether that is non-weight-bearing (no weight on the leg) or partial weight-bearing (some weight allowed). See our terms on non-weight-bearing and weight-bearing.
A quick fitting check
- Stand tall in flat shoes with the crutches beside you.
- The top should sit a few finger-widths below the armpit, not in it.
- The handgrip should be level with your wrist, with the elbow slightly bent.
- Support your weight through the hands, not the armpits.
An everyday example in Ipoh
A teenager sprains an ankle at a futsal match and goes home on crutches. In the family’s terrace house the bathroom floor is tiled and sometimes wet, and the stairs are narrow.
Her mother puts a non-slip mat in the bathroom, clears the loose rug at the door, and the physiotherapist teaches the teenager to take the stairs with the crutches, one step at a time.
Related terms and our pages
- Walking frame and quad cane: other aids that give more support.
Read our walking aids guide, ankle fracture, ankle sprain and fracture recovery.