Underarm Crutches

Underarm Crutches

PRIMARY CLINICAL & DIAGNOSTIC USES

1. Complete Non-Weight-Bearing Mobility for Lower Limb Injuries

• Primary Use: Enables ambulation while keeping one leg completely off the ground, transferring 100% of the body’s weight through the arms, axillae (armpits), and upper body. This is critical for fractures of the ankle, tibia, femur, and foot, as well as post-surgical non-weight-bearing orders following joint replacement or ligament reconstruction.

• How it helps: For the orthopedic surgeon and emergency physician prescribing strict non-weight-bearing status, underarm crutches are the primary means by which a patient can remain mobile while their injury heals—allowing them to attend appointments, manage daily needs, and maintain independence without placing weight on a fragile fracture or fresh surgical repair. For the patient with a broken ankle, fractured tibia, or newly replaced joint, crutches represent both freedom and restriction—freedom to move through the world, and the constant reminder that their injured leg must not touch the ground.

2. Protected Partial Weight-Bearing and Gait Training

• Primary Use: Used to control and limit the amount of weight placed on a healing lower extremity, allowing for a controlled, “touch-down” or partial weight-bearing gait as prescribed by a physician or physical therapist. The crutches provide a stable platform for graduated weight-bearing progression.

• How it helps: For the physical therapist guiding a patient through post-operative recovery, underarm crutches are the tool that allows graduated weight-bearing—starting with just the toes touching for balance, then progressively more weight as the healing bone or replaced joint tolerates increased load. For the patient recovering from hip replacement or fracture fixation, crutches provide the confidence to begin putting weight on a leg that has been off-limits for weeks, feeling their way back to normal walking under the protection of the crutches’ support.

3. Stability and Balance Support for Unilateral Weakness

• Primary Use: Provide significant stability for individuals with weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, such as after a stroke, or for those with conditions like unilateral leg amputations (before prosthesis fitting). The wide base of the crutches supports the body while the affected limb is partially or fully unweighted.

• How it helps: For the neurologist and rehabilitation team working with a patient recovering from stroke, underarm crutches can provide the external stability that compensates for lost motor control—allowing the patient to walk despite hemiparesis, engaging the affected side in a protected manner. For the patient whose body has been changed by neurological injury, crutches offer a path back to ambulation, providing the support needed to challenge their recovering nervous system.

4. Pain Reduction during Ambulation for Acute Lower Limb Conditions

• Primary Use: Allow walking by offloading weight from a painful, inflamed, or injured leg, enabling mobility while the condition heals. This is particularly useful for severe arthritis flare-ups, cellulitis, post-operative pain, and acute gout attacks.

• How it helps: For the primary care provider managing a patient with a severe gout flare, cellulitis, or post-operative pain, prescribing crutches for a few days or weeks provides immediate relief from the agony of weight-bearing on an inflamed extremity. For the patient in exquisite pain from an acute condition, crutches mean they can still get to the bathroom, prepare food, and maintain basic independence while their body heals.

5. Upper Body Strengthening and Endurance Training

• Primary Use: The act of using crutches provides a rigorous workout for the shoulders, arms, and core muscles, which can be part of a structured rehabilitation program for patients with lower extremity injuries or deconditioning.

• How it helps: For the physical therapist, the use of underarm crutches provides cardiovascular and strengthening benefits that complement lower extremity rehabilitation—maintaining upper body fitness while the lower limb heals. For the patient, the upper body strength gained during crutch use carries over to overall functional improvement and may reduce fatigue during daily activities.

SECONDARY & SUPPORTIVE USES

1. Stair Navigation with Lower Limb Limitations: With proper technique, underarm crutches enable safe ascent and descent of stairs when one leg cannot bear weight normally.

2. Temporary Mobility Aid during Diagnostic Procedures: Used to facilitate patient movement in hospitals or clinics when leg weakness or pain is present but not yet diagnosed.

3. Energy Conservation for Neuromuscular Diseases: For individuals with conditions like muscular dystrophy, crutches can help conserve lower body energy by transferring work to the upper body during walking.

4. Assistance with Standing and Transfers: Provide leverage and support for rising from a seated position or for performing seated transfers when lower body strength is compromised.

5. Post-Operative Recovery: Essential for patients recovering from lower extremity surgery requiring non-weight-bearing or protected weight-bearing.

6. Community Ambulation: Allows patients to maintain independence and participate in community activities while recovering from injury.