Using a pair of crutches Te whakamahi i ngā rākau hauā

Find out how to adjust your crutches and how to use them properly to support an injured leg. There are different ways to use crutches depending on whether your healthcare provider has said you can or cannot put weight on your affected leg.

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Set your crutches to the right height

Adjust the height of each crutch so:

  • with your arm straight by your side, the handle of the crutch is in line with the bone that sticks out above your wrist
  • the cuff of the crutch is just below your elbow.

To adjust the handle of the crutch:

  • push the pins in and slide the crutch to the correct height
  • do the same to adjust the height of the cuff.

Illustration showing how to set the height of your crutches

Using crutches to keep weight off your injured leg

Using your crutches correctly can allow you to keep the weight off your injured or affected leg. If your healthcare provider has asked you to keep the weight off your leg this is to help your bone and tissue heal properly and make sure your bone heals in the correct position.

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  1. Put both crutches in front of you, a short step length away keeping your affected leg off the ground.
  2. Lean on the crutches to take your weight on your arms and crutches while stepping forward with your good leg. Take care not to put any weight on your affected leg.



Avoid moving between sitting and standing with your arms in the crutches.

Sitting down

  1. Bring your crutches together in front of you while keeping your affected leg off the ground. Place them into an H shape as shown in the picture, holding the handles with one hand.
  2. Reach your arm back for the chair behind you and slowly lower yourself to sit down. Keep your affected leg off the ground.

Standing up

  1. Put your weight on your good leg, with your affected leg off the ground.
  2. Place your crutches together to form an H shape as shown in the picture.
  3. Use one arm to push down on the crutch handles and the other on the surface you are sitting on or the chair armrest.
  4. Once you are standing and have your balance, place your arms through both crutches, ready to walk.

Going up steps

  1. Place your good leg on the step, taking care not to put any weight on your affected leg.
  2. Bring your crutches up onto the step.

Going down steps

  1. Place your crutches on the step below with your affected leg out in front of you.
  2. Slowly lower your good leg down onto the step below, taking care not to put any weight on your affected leg.

Using crutches while putting some weight on your injured leg

Follow these instructions to use your crutches if your healthcare provider has let you know that you can put weight on your affected leg.

Your healthcare provider will tell you how much weight you can put through your leg. This can vary from a small amount through to your whole body weight.

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  • Place both crutches in front of you, a short step length away.
  • Move your affected leg forward until it is in line with the crutches. Take care not to put more weight on your affected leg than you are allowed to.
  • Step with your good leg so it is in line with your affected leg.

Avoid moving between sitting and standing with your arms in the crutches.

Sitting down

  1. Keeping your affected leg slightly in front, bring your crutches together in front of you on the same side as your affected leg. Place them into an H shape holding the handles with one hand.
  2. Reach your arm back for the seat behind you or the chair armrest and slowly lower yourself to sit down.

Standing up

  1. Place your crutches together to form an H shape.
  2. Use one arm to push down on the crutch handles and the other on the surface you are sitting on or the chair armrest. Take care not to put more weight on your affected leg than you are allowed to.
  3. Once you have stood up and you have your balance, place your arms through both crutches, ready to walk.

Going up steps

  1. Put your good leg on the step.
  2. Lean forward and push through your crutches to bring your affected leg up onto the step. Take care not to put more weight on your affected leg than you are allowed to.
  3. Bring your crutches up onto the step.

Going down steps

  1. Put your crutches on the step below.
  2. Put your affected leg on the step below. Take care not to put more weight on your affected leg than you are allowed to.
  3. Lean forward and push through your crutches to bring the good leg down onto the step below.

Related videos

This short video shows you how to use crutches if you cannot put any weight at all on your injured leg, and then if you can put some weight on it.

Safe use of crutches — YouTubeexternal link

This short video shows you how to go up and down stairs using crutches, both when you can put some weight on your leg and when you cannot put any weight on your leg.

Using crutches on stairs — YouTubeexternal link