Walking with Crutches For Handicapp Persons

Four-Point Crutch Gait:

Indication:Weakness in both legs or poor coordination.

Pattern Sequence:Left crutch, right foot, right crutch, left foot. Then repeat.

Advantages:Provides excellent stability as there are always three points in contact with the ground

Disadvantages:Slow walking speed

Three-Point Crutch Gait:

Indication:Inability to bear weight on one leg. (fractures, pain, amputations)

Pattern Sequence: First move both crutches and the weaker lower limb forward. Then bear all your weight down through the Walking Crutches, and move the stronger or unaffected lower limb forward. Repeat.

Advantages:Eliminates all weight bearing on the affected leg.

Disadvantages:Good balance is required.

Two-Point Crutch Gait:

Indication:Weakness in both legs or poor coordination.

Pattern Sequence:Left crutch and right foot together, then the right crutch and left foot together. Repeat.

Advantages:Faster than the four point date.

Disadvantages:Can be difficult to learn the pattern.

Swing-Through Crutch Gait:

Indications:Inability to fully bear weight on both legs. (fractures, pain, amputations)

Pattern Sequence:Advance both crutches forward then, while bearing all weight down through both crutches, swing both legs forward at the same time past the crutches.

Advantage:Fastest gait pattern of all six.

Disadvantage:Energy consuming and requires good upper extremity strength.

Swing-To Crutch Gait:

Indications:Patients with weakness of both lower extremities.

Pattern Sequence:Advance both crutches forward then, while bearing all weight down through both crutches, swing both legs forward at the same time to (not past) the Forearm Crutch.

Advantage:Easy to learn.

Disadvantage:Requires good upper extremity strength.

Tripod Crutch Gait:

Indications:Initial pattern for patients with paraplegia learning to do swing to gait pattern.

Pattern Sequence:Advance the left crutch, then the right crutch, then drag both legs to the crutches

Advantage:Provides good stability.

Disadvantage:Very energy consuming.

Standing Up with walking crutches:

Put both crutches on your injured side. Lean forward and push off with your arm from the chair.

Sitting Down with walking crutches:

Remove the walking crutches and place both of them together on your injured side. Hold onto the hand grips with one hand. Use your other hand to hold onto the arm rest or edge of the chair and slowly sit down.

Stairs:

Do not attempt to climb stairs or curbs until you have complete confidence in using your Aids For Mobility. For safety reasons, you can sit down and scoot up and down the steps on your bottom if needed. If you have a rail, put both walking crutches under one arm and hold onto the rail for safety.

Going up stairs with or without a railing:

    Keep the walking crutches on the stair you are standing.

    Support your weight between your walking crutches.

    Bring your good leg up to the next step. Let the injured leg trail behind.

    Straighten your good leg and bring the walking crutches and your injured leg up.

Going down stairs:

    Put the walking crutches on the lower step while putting your injured foot forward.

    Support your weight between your walking crutches.

    Move your good foot to the lower step.

Getting Into and Out of a Car with walking crutches:

• Have someone open the door and move the seat back as far as they can.
• Back up until you feel the edge of the seat. Grab the back rest with one hand and the hand grips of the crutches with the other.
• Tip your head to avoid bumping it. Stand up or sit down using your good leg to bear your weight. To sit down, put the heel of your good leg on the car frame and push back. Move across the seat until your injured leg can be swung into the car.

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