Our Physiotherapist, Amelia Samuels, explains how to safely use crutches to ascend and descend stairs. To learn more about walking with crutches, please go to • Safe Use of Crutches
I just got cleared for partial weight bearing and now using crutches (I had to learn how) after 7 weeks of non weight bearing. This video looks great! Now I have to get over the fear of doing it as falling down the stairs put me in this predicament in the first place.
They are acting to tell you how to do it! You can see they are in the same uniform but different colours and the person with the crutches obviously hasn't got an injury since they have nothing on their ankle/foot to support them! :)
Very informative! I had surgery today on my left knee. I live in a 2 story house. Need to go up and come down. Love that your technique doesn't use the handrail ours broke!
I have been watching every video I can for the last few weeks to try and get my head around going up and downstairs with a broken foot - this video is incredible - so easily explained. Now I need to practice more but so far at least the concept is going into my brain!! Thank you!
It’s definitely not easy & SLOW is key!! I too am non weight bearing - have been for two weeks w/ quite awhile still to go - and my comfort in the stairs at least, while not great, has gotten a bit better, so I hope it’s the same for you. If by chance you’re using underarm crutches - likely if you’re in the US - I will say that I find forearm (like in the video) are SO much better on steps ($ in MANY other ways), & in particular going down. (So if you do have underarm definitely at least consider making the switch if you’re going to need them for any significant amount of time). If your injury/ surgery if knee/ lower leg scooting is also an option ; if it was an option for my injury I’d definitely be doing it to get down at least some of the time! Hope your recovery is going well!
This video has helped me so much!! Love the heaven and hell terminology lol makes it easy to remember. I broke my Tibula, Fibula and ankle 3 months ago and have only just started to use crutches while partial weight bearing. Been a nightmare and still need more surgery. Thank you!!
Dude dont they teach that at the hospital? I have a broken fibula and tibia and i had surgery because my tibia had a 4 mm opening and i needed screws now im siting home
I’m on crutches and have an air cast. Thanks this helps bc everyone was making fun of me at school bc I was going up the stairs slow and the WHOLE school was behind me🙄
Very informative yet figured this out in 2018 with a broken pelvis. My right leg was always the "bad" leg since then until 7th July 2023. Now my left leg is "bad" so what now. My muscles are messed up in the right leg and I feel it when I stand for long periods.
The bathroom has a step on entering, its okay going in but getting back out up the step is really difficult, I can't bear any weight yet either. Still early days for me in my recovery. This atep is a bit of a nightmare til I get it right.
I have a upcoming foot surgery on my right foot, and it will be non weight bearing for the 1st 2 weeks, I live up on 3rd floor no elevator, so in total 4 flights of stairs to get up, 1 to get into the building and 3 to get up to my apt, 1 outside has 1 railing and the next 3 flights have 1 railing on each side...can you please tell me the name of these crutches as I'm supposed to have everything with me when I go to the hospital for surgery...I go in December 9th please try n get back to me before then thank you, this video was very helpful
I broke my ankle a couple weeks ago and I'm still non weight bearing. I have to go up and down a flight of stairs to get to my apartment. There's no elevator. I'm so terrified going up stairs. I just feel like I'm hopping up the stairs with no support. I tried the handrail technique on my own yesterday to leave and then when I came home, I sat on the steps and slid down. I can't wait until this is over
I’m in the same position as you! I’m non weight bearing and have to walk up a flight of stairs. I was TERRIFIED of falling down the stairs when I first got my cast. I literally hop up the stairs using the hand rail and when going down I use both hand rails and hop. It’s a mess!
Okay so if you’re like me and don’t have a “good and bad leg” and are using crutches for something like EDS… here is what I do since I can’t find any videos that acknowledge this or give advice about it! I’m using a modified 4 point gate. For a long time I thought I was doing it wrong because of just how high I had to lift the crutches. But I believe I’ve just about got it now.
I just ant to ask which is the most advanced gait in crutch walking: a. four point gait b. three point gait c. swing to gait d. swing thru gait thanks so much!
Hi Rachel, Thanks for your question. The four-point gait pattern would be the most complex movement pattern, however it may not be the most appropriate depending on the patient. Our physiotherapists will teach the most appropriate gait pattern to meet the individual patient's needs, their condition and their level of ability. I hope this helps.
On forearm crutches, my hands really hurt because I’m putting most of my weight on my arms and my uninjured leg, I’ve put fluffy socks on to avoid blisters, but they still really hurt anyone got advice?!
@@Mel-pb5xw Assuming this is still useful to you, smart crutches or similar designs have or can be adjusted to have your forearms at more of an angle. I have EDS and it doesn’t take much to make my hands hurt really bad but I haven’t had any trouble with my smart crutches so far. They are 200$ though so I understand they’re a lot if you won’t be using them permanently. I know there’s a brand that has the same angled design that lets you rent them but I cannot remember what it is unfortunately
it would be much better if the bad leg had a band or something on it, with the partial weight bearing it is difficult to tell which leg is i injured especially when the person is going down the stairs
all these videos show the patient in short sleeves, easy to put your arms through the crutches loops... RU-vid is a global platform, and we don't all live in California or Florida with warm weathers... Many of us live on cold climates, wearing lots of clothes and very heavy coats... How can we use these crutches if we cannot get our arms through the loops?
Ive spent 3 days with a totally unusable left foot without any crutches. I had to use a chair and stand up, move the chair, sit down on the chair, stand up again, all the way to the toilet. What an ordeal just to take a sh*t.
Maybe I could suggest and request to who fits my crutches to get ones that go under my arms if I have to weight bare going up and down steps. I think it's highly unlikely everyday people could weight bare their weight from their wrists on steps like this safely, even with instruction and practice :)
While underarm crutches can be a bit more stable, when used properly all weight should still be being placed on the hands/ arms & none in/ in the armpits (as doing so can not only cause short term pain but in fact permanent nerve damage). Obviously every individual is different, & I am in quite good shape, but after nearly 2wks of non weight bearing w/ underarm crutches (which are standard issue in the US), I switched to forearm & find them SO much easier in many ways, not the least being on the steps. Going down was easier - & felt much safer - from ever my first try; going up took me a few goes to get used to the difference but once I got the hang of it was the same or a bit better, so all in all for me a vast improvement (as I felt terribly unsafe going down w/ the underarm version &, b/c of my injury - a hip/femur fracture - scooting isn’t an option for me). The forearm still are certainly NOT easy - steps or otherwise - and my palms are super sore, but for me (& for many others from what I’ve heard/ read), they’re far better than underarm. I hope you’re now well recovered but figured I’d comment for others that might be watching/ reading & have a similar question in the future…
What if you have normal crutches and not these fancy-pants Austrailian ones. I can't hold two normal crutches in one hand whilst putting weight on them and the handrail (non-weight-bearing). I'm 99% sure I'm going to go ass-over-teakettle down the 5 flights of my apartment building stairwell.
Why say bad leg goes to hell. You're trying to recover, and that's the last thing you want to hear is your bad leg is going to hell🤷🏻♂️ great motivation 🥶 how about using more suitable words
