How to Use Crutches on Stairs

• Approach the stairs and have your therapist stand by for safety until confident of abilities.
• Keep crutches down on lower level and do not place upward on the steps. Push down hard on the crutches with your arms. This lifts the body upward.
• Then, step up first with your strong leg to the first step!
• Bring up your weak leg and crutches to the same step as the strong leg.
• Crutches and both legs should now be on the same step.
• Repeat sequence from Step 3 again.
• To come down the stairs, lower the crutches down to the next step.
• The strong good leg and your arms will help lower body weight slowly to the next step.
• Move the weaker/painful leg down to the step with the crutches on it.
• Keep little or all weight off the painful leg as per your doctor’s recommendations.
• Step down with strong leg.
• Both legs and the crutches should be on the same step.
• Repeat sequence from Step 7 to continue descending stairs.
• When finished, play theme song from Hollywood movie Rocky.
• Hydrate with liquids to keep refreshed from the workout!

TIPS

• Use a handrail and both crutches on one side, if balance or fatigue is a problem.
• To remember proper gait sequence, just recall “Good foot goes to heaven, bad foot goes to hell-o!”
• Try to keep arms strong with simple strengthening exercises to help reduce walking fatigue.

Courtesy of Thomas Fetterman, Inc. 

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