How to Ambulate With Crutches

Ambulating, or walking, with crutches is a skill most hope to never need. But foot, leg and ankle injuries are common, and sometimes other rarer conditions, such as stroke, can necessitate the use of crutches as well. To avoid falling and worsening your condition, or causing secondary problems through misuse, it's important to learn how to walk properly with crutches. Your doctor or physical therapist can give you the best direction on crutch-use, based on your specific condition. But there are also a few basic guidelines you can follow that will help you use crutches correctly and safely.

Instructions

• 1

  Make sure the crutches are the right size for you: You won't be able to walk properly, if they aren't. Their height should extend to about 1 to 1 ½ inches below your armpits, and your elbows should be slightly bent when you hold the hand grips.

• 2

  Press the tops of the crutches tightly to your sides and shift most of your weight to your hands on the hand grips. Do not rest your weight on the top of the crutches.

• 3

  Lean forward slightly and place the points of the crutches about one foot in front of you; wide enough apart to allow your body to swing between them.

• 4

  Move your body forward, as if you were going to place the dysfunctional leg on the ground, but shift your body weight to the crutches instead of the leg.

• 5

  Swing your body between the crutches and land on your healthy leg, keeping your eyes focused on where you are headed, and not on your feet.

• 6

  Place the crutches in front of you again and repeat the process.