2998 How to go up and down the stairs with crutches

You have been given crutches because of an injury or operation, to your leg, knee, ankle, or foot. This short video will show you how to go up and down the stairs with crutches, and manage a single step or kerb. Your healthcare professional will tell you whether you are allowed to support your body weight on your injured leg or not. It is important to know this because it changes how you use your crutches. If they tell you not to support your body weight with your injured leg, this is called non-weight-bearing. If you are allowed to support your body weight on your injured leg, this is called weight bearing. Weight bearing can be full or partial. We will begin by showing you how to use crutches if you are non-weight bearing. If you are using a handrail, hold both crutches in one hand, and grip the hand rail with your other hand. When going up the stairs, hold your injured leg slightly behind you. Lean through both arms onto the handrail and crutch, and hop up with your good leg. Then bring your crutches up onto the same step. When going down, hold your injured leg slightly in front of you. Put your crutch down onto the next step. Lean through both arms onto the handrail and crutch. Whilst still holding your leg in front of you, lower yourself down onto your good leg. If you aren’t using a handrail, or are managing a kerb, keep one crutch in each hand. When going up, get as close as you can to the first step, and hold your injured leg slightly behind you. Lean through both arms onto the crutches, and hop up with your good leg. Then bring your crutches up onto the step. When going down, put both crutches down onto the next step and hold your injured leg slightly in front of you. Lean through both arms onto the crutches. Whilst still holding your leg in front of you, lower yourself down onto your good leg. We will now show you how to use crutches when you are allowed to fully, or partially, weight-bear. If you are using a handrail, put both crutches in one hand, and hold the hand rail with your other hand. When going up the stairs, lean through both arms onto the handrail and crutch, and step up with your good leg. Then bring your injured leg and crutches up to the same step. When going down the stairs, put your crutch down on to the next step. Step down with your injured leg first. Take as much weight through your injured leg as you are allowed to. Lean the rest of your weight through both arms onto the crutch and handrail, as you step down with your good leg. If you aren’t using a handrail or are managing a kerb, keep one crutch in each hand. When going up, lean through both arms onto the crutches, and step up with your good leg. Then bring your injured leg and crutches up to the same step. When going down, put your crutches down on to the next step. Step down with your injured leg first, taking as much weight through your injured leg as you are allowed to. Now take your weight through both arms onto the crutches, as you step down with your good leg. If you have any further questions, please contact the medical team caring for your injury.