Take 5 cm off this and you have the correct crutch length, e. If your child is unable to stand safely, you can take the measurements while they are lying down. Adjust the handgrip height so the elbow bends slightly when your child is standing relaxed. How to use crutches Make sure your child is standing up straight and balanced before trying to use the crutches.
Your child should: hold the handgrip firmly to their side by pressing their upper arms against their body the elbows should be slightly bent move both crutches out in front of their body make sure the crutches are not placed too far in front or too far apart from each other balance their weight on their hands and push down onto the crutch handles make sure they lean on their hands, not their armpits bring their good leg up to or just past the crutches — this will move them forward.
If they are not allowed to bear weight on their sore leg, make sure they keep it off the ground. Sitting down or standing up with crutches Your child should: hold the crutches in one hand, by the crutch handles place their sore leg forward grip the seat with their other hand lean forward, gently bend their good leg and lower themselves onto the seat; or gently straighten their good leg and push themselves up from the seat.
Using crutches with stairs Navigating stairs is one of the trickiest parts of using crutches. Going up: "Good foot, sore foot, crutches" Your child should: walk right up to the step figure a pushing through their arms, lean forward and bring their weight over the crutches, and then hop onto the first step with their good foot figure b straighten their body while bringing their crutches and sore leg up onto the step continue this process carefully up the stairs figure c.
Going down: "Crutches, sore foot, good foot" Your child should: walk right to the edge of the step place their crutches carefully down to the step below move their sore foot out in front of the crutches and lean slightly forward, then let the crutches carry their weight figure a pushing firmly through the crutches, step down onto the good leg figure b continue this process slowly and carefully down the stairs.
Key points to remember Your child should take things slowly at first and learn how to use the crutches properly. Your child's weight should be on their hands, not on their armpits. Make sure the crutches are not placed too far in front of their body or too far apart from each other. Special care is needed going up and down stairs.
A parent or carer should be close by to steady your child if needed. If it doesn't feel safe, your child should go up or down stairs on their bottom. For more information Contact your local emergency department, physiotherapy, GP or practice nurse.
Common questions our doctors are asked How long will my child need to use crutches? Disclaimer This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. Unless otherwise requested on the notes, size d1 is sent children's size 2.
Louis, Kansas City - These colored aluminum crutches are perfect for my son, I ordered them blue zenith. He is very proud of them. Both the handgrip and the cuff can easily be adjusted in length to be adapted exactly to the height of the child. Congratulations for this ergonomic and cheerful product. Raf, Denver. Prices :. Store Locator. Compression Socks. Reading Glasses. Bamboo underwear. The average age that many physicians will allow a child to use crutches is 7 years old, although some younger kids have been known to use crutches as long as they are cleared by a doctor.
However, if pediatric crutches are the best option, they offer many advantages. Some of these are:. Children with disabilities or injuries often have problems with their walking gait. While other children may need a different mobility aid such as a walker, as mentioned above , still others can benefit from using crutches instead.
They can also help kids to improve their walking gait when possible. Some children can further benefit by using crutches in non-weight bearing situations to improve posture and augment upper body strength. Some children who suffer from debilitating diseases such as cerebral palsy or various musculoskeletal disorders can benefit from the use of crutches. While many of them sadly only have a certain amount of time before they end up completely wheelchair-bound, these walking aids promote psychological support and independence while they can have it.
Many handicapped children want to have as much of a normal life as possible, and pediatric crutches help them to experience walking in a manner that is as similar to other kids as is possible. While children are indeed capable of healing faster than most adults, they still may suffer from accidentally bearing weight down on their injured legs if they have a sprain or broken bone.
Therefore, pediatric crutches do the same thing that adult crutches do — they help the child keep their weight off of their injured leg when possible. Even in children, the average broken bone takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks to heal fully. It has been medically proven that crutches may even speed up recovery time in children, allowing the sprained or broken bone or tendon to heal within weeks.
Children need special guidance from their parents in using crutches. They may have a hard time learning how to use them, but with practice, they can get a hang of it. However, in order for them to learn the ropes, it is extremely important that their living situation is prepared appropriately.
Remove obstacles that may cause trips and falls and be sure that hallways and any areas your child will be walking through is as clear as possible, with no tripping hazards. If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance with your order, dial to speak with a qualified and professionally trained customer caregiver today!
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