A healthy leg can support your body weight, but when you have an injured leg or foot, you need to keep weight off it. Wear appropriately-fitted, low-heeled shoes. Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.5 Paper Capture Plug-in Repeat. If your crutches reach too close to the … Push down through the crutch handles, then step down with your non-surgical/non-injured leg. But methods using of different crutches is an important context. Climb up to first step straightening good leg. Place only the amount of weight through your surgical/injured leg as specified by the physician. Start close to the bottom step. The height of the crutch should be adjusted so that there are 1-2 inches of space between the top of the crutch and your armpit. 2017-11-26T19:34:46-05:00 For example, if you are 25% PWB, you may place 25% of your bodyweight through this leg. For example, a 200-pound patient that is allowed 50% PWB may place up to 100 pounds of weight through the surgical/injured leg. Take care not to put weight on your bad leg. Lean forward at your hips, tighten your core muscles and then push down through both hands and both legs (only place as much weight through the surgical/injured leg as specified by your physician) in order to stand. • Weight bearing as tolerated: Allow as much weight as tolerated through the involved leg. Note: If you’re supposed to keep all weight off your leg (non–weight-bearing), ask your healthcare provider for special instructions. Move your injured leg forward and put your foot even with the crutches. Take a step with the "good" leg. Take some of your weight through your walking aid and/or bannister. When not in use, it is best to rest your crutches upside down. Standing straight with your arm at your side, the crutch handle should align with the inside of your wrist. When going up the stairs, follow this sequence: - place your good leg on the step first - next, bring your other leg to the same step - finally, bring your crutch up to join your feet on the step. Stand on floor facing stairs, hold onto handrail with one arm and crutch( es) in outside arm, close to first step. Use your crutches only as instructed. (If there’s no handrail, keep one crutch under each arm.) Your physician will decide whether you are to be non-weight bearing, toe-touch weight-bearing, partial weight-bearing, or weight-bearing as tolerated on your surgical/injured leg. How to Use Crutches – Partial Weight Bearing Patient Information Leaflet If you are unable to attend your appointment please 600818 to cancel your appointment . Reach back with your free hand until you feel the armrest (or seat) of the chair. Partial weight bearing. Do not wear slippers or high heels. To get a feel for your PWB limit, you may place your surgical/injured leg onto a scale and shift your weight to that side. This time period will be determined by your … This instructional video shows how to walk with crutches correctly while putting partial weight on the injured leg. In this case, your patient would estimate half of their body weight and put 50% of their weight through their injured leg, and the remaining 50% of their body weight would be supported by their arms through the crutches. Step your surgical/injured leg forward to meet the crutches. 2017-11-26T19:34:46-05:00 They can feel more stable and secure than a walking stick, but less than a walking frame. Repeat the procedure. You might be using two crutches and non-weight bearing (NWB) on one side, partial weight bearing (PWB) with two crutches, or PWB with one crutch. endstream endobj 14 0 obj <> endobj 54 0 obj <> endobj 55 0 obj <>/CM10<>/CM11<>/CM12<>/CM2<>/CM3<>/CM4<>/CM5<>/CM6<>/CM7<>/CM8<>/CM9<>>> endobj 89 0 obj <> endobj 90 0 obj <> endobj 91 0 obj [56 0 R 57 0 R 95 0 R 96 0 R 97 0 R 98 0 R 99 0 R 100 0 R 101 0 R 102 0 R 103 0 R 104 0 R 105 0 R 106 0 R 107 0 R 108 0 R 60 0 R 61 0 R 109 0 R 110 0 R 111 0 R 112 0 R 113 0 R 114 0 R 63 0 R 115 0 R 116 0 R 64 0 R 65 0 R 66 0 R 67 0 R 117 0 R 68 0 R 118 0 R 69 0 R 70 0 R 71 0 R 72 0 R 73 0 R 74 0 R 75 0 R 76 0 R 119 0 R 77 0 R 120 0 R 78 0 R 94 0 R] endobj 92 0 obj <>46]/P 121 0 R/Pg 21 0 R/S/Link>> endobj 93 0 obj [80 0 R 81 0 R 122 0 R 123 0 R 124 0 R 125 0 R 126 0 R 127 0 R 128 0 R 129 0 R 83 0 R 84 0 R 85 0 R 130 0 R 131 0 R 132 0 R 133 0 R 134 0 R 135 0 R 87 0 R 136 0 R 137 0 R 138 0 R 139 0 R 140 0 R 141 0 R 142 0 R 143 0 R 144 0 R 145 0 R 146 0 R 147 0 R 148 0 R 149 0 R 150 0 R 151 0 R 152 0 R 153 0 R 154 0 R 155 0 R] endobj 94 0 obj <>46]/P 79 0 R/Pg 21 0 R/S/Link>> endobj 79 0 obj <> endobj 21 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 792.0 612.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 156 0 obj [47 0 R] endobj 157 0 obj <>stream *If there is a railing available to use, hold both crutches on the side of your body opposite the handrail and grab the handrail with your free hand. Once standing, place both crutches one step in front of you, level with each other. How to use crutches while walking. • Take your weight through your hands by squeezing the Using crutches. Your physician will decide whether you are to be non weight bearing, toe-touch weight bearing, partial weight bearing, or weight bearing as tolerated on your surgical/injured leg. Whenever you go up the stairs with crutches, whether there’s a railing or not, use your strong leg to step onto the stair first before pulling up the injured leg. 7-3501-106 ED C34 CC Rev 01 2012 Review 03 OD Aug 8, 2019 - Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Physical Therapy: Partial Weight Bearing on Stairs using Crutches Patients in Bethesda, MD, Arlington, VA, and beyond can give us a call at (301) 530-1010. Hold onto the handrail with one hand. When they are fixed in place, they will not move. You will also learn how to safely sit, stand and go up and down stairs. application/pdf • Your injured leg can be on the ground. Can be used even by shorter … The “swing to” method of walking, sometimes called gait, is easy to learn and takes less arm strength and balance. Tips for Going Up the Stairs on Crutches. Using the stairs with your elbow crutches If you need to use the stairs at home you may be taught how to go up and down the stairs by a physiotherapist before you are discharged from hospital. How To Use Crutches On Stairs - Partial-Weight Bearing Going Up Stairs: 1. Managing Stairs and Steps Non-Weight Bearing (NWB) This leaflet should only be used in conjunction with the advice and demonstration given by your Physiotherapist. Keep in mind any weight-bearing limits. The part that makes them non-weight bearing is the adjustable length. It is very important that you adhere to your weight-bearing instructions in order to avoid disrupting the healing process. 7. 2. 2Hold both crutches in one hand, on the side of your surgical/injured leg. Yet, crutches are in many cases the top ideal decision for non-weight bearing recovery. Use your crutch in your other hand. Have someone walk with you initially until you feel steady on your feet. How to use crutches on the stairs. Step up with your non-surgical/non-injured leg, then bring your surgical/injured leg, and both crutches up at the same time. 1���5M��������#5�ҷ�|��+\c�|2b>�D�)���D�k Nj�$�[U-���]�t[�k�`��>�뙑�����ZiŒk�J6`#�|��U3L3�j,d�!5����\�B!�E�ύ �M�1��2��iLܢ��'*.j&��y��T�DXV�& �G��-Xy$���BPHe-�"%��������b߷o�'��, 7-3501-106 ED C34 CC Rev 01 2012 Review 03 OD. 2. Using crutches on stairs or steps can be very scary. It is very important that you adhere to your weight-bearing instructions in order to avoid disrupting the healing process. This is especially important when walking on unlevel/uneven surfaces or stairs. 6. Take your weight through your walking aid and/or bannister. If going down multiple steps, repeat this pattern until you have reached the bottom. Bring down your surgical/injured leg first. Climbing stairs - partial weight bearing. Take most of the weight by pushing down on the handgrips, squeezing the top of the crutches between the chest and arm. Using Crutches: Up and Down Steps. Regain your … 4. Push down equally on the handgrips and step through with your good leg. When climbing up and down steps, remember this rule: Up with the good (unaffected leg) and down with the bad (affected leg). 2. Hold the armrest of the chair (or chair seat) with the other hand. Hold both crutches in one hand, on the side of your surgical/injured leg. uuid:f5782bd7-d074-402e-a184-1a674955f710 partial weight bearing. Begin by using a scale to see how much pressure is on your affected leg when half of your weight is placed on it. Move both crutches and your injured leg forward at the same time. Put the crutches forward about 1 step's length. Ascending stairs and steps 1. Tip: Ask a friend to carry one of your crutches while you climb or descend stairs. Keep your bad leg out behind you. Push down forcefully and equally on the handgrips. Famous Physical Therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck provide instruction on how to go up & down stairs with crutches. Step up with your surgical/injured leg and both crutches. USE OF CRUTCHES : ON LEVEL SURFACES: • Crutch tips should be approximately 6" in front and 6" to the side of both legs. Maintaining your weight-bearing limitations, step forward with your non-surgical/non-injured leg, just in front of the crutches. • Grip the crutch handles firmly. It's important to remember which leg goes first when walking with crutches weight-bearing. Weight-bearing as tolerated (WBAT) or Full weight-bearing (FWB) The therapist will instruct you on the appropriate set-up and fitting of your crutches. Use your crutches for all walking and standing activities until your physician instructs you otherwise. Stand close to the edge of the surface you intend to go down. *If there is a railing available to use, hold both crutches on the side of your body opposite the handrail and grab the handrail with your free hand. • Put your injured leg on the ground, slightly behind the crutches. Put only as much weight on your injured leg as you have been advised. This is when you are able to take full weight on the unaffected leg, and some weight on the affected leg. Step through the crutches with your good leg. Put as much weight as you are allowed on the injured leg, taking the rest of the weight through your arms and hands. Hold both crutches under your opposite arm. Crutches provide temporary support if you're struggling to balance or need to take weight off of one, or both, of your legs. Get someone to carry your other crutch up/down the stairs for you. Start by placing both crutches 1-2 inches to the outside of each foot and 6-12 inches in front of you. Check the crutches daily for cracks and/or loose screws. Position yourself so that the backs of your legs are touching the chair. If going up multiple steps, repeat this pattern until you have reached the top. Crutches are always being used when there is a need to keep the body weight away from the injured leg making the best crutches for non-weight bearing important for mobility. Keeping your weight on the good leg, take the crutches from under your arms. Hop onto the first step with your good (un-operated) leg. Keep in mind any weight-bearing limits. These instructions are specifically for patients that are partial weight bearing (PWB). Advice If there is a bannister or rail, please use it. The list of great features Medline MDS805160 provides: Excellent for tall people everywhere. Once standing and steady, place one crutch under each arm. you can put weight through your leg as normal. Step up with your affected leg and bring the crutches up with you. Hold on to a rail and use elbow crutches as needed. Lower the crutches down, step down with your surgical/injured leg, then step down with your non-surgical/non-injured leg. These instructions are specifically for patients that are weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT). Walking up stairs: Stand at the bottom of the stairs. For those who need one crutch to be longer, it will be easy to extend anyone of them. Put the "bad" leg forward, level with the crutch tips. But walking by a crutch bearing body weight is not an easy task. When using the stairs never forget that you should always start a step or a movement with your healthy leg. Use your assistive device to stand with slight pressure on your leg. However, with varied mobility of body there are also differences in the use of crutches. Whether you’ve received a referral from your primary care physician or would like to visit our premier team to discuss any orthopedic issues you may be experiencing, we invite you to contact us today. This is roughly the width of two fingers. These instructions are specifically for patients that are partial weight bearing (PWB). Replace worn tips and unsafe parts. Most times, injury to any part of the leg can be so severe and hurtful. uuid:ea20b662-adcc-4722-8364-89d44f5b7078 Check the ground for objects that may cause crutches to slip out from under you. H��W�n9��� 2 Keep the crutches away from the edge of the stairs. Discharge Instructions: Using Crutches (Non–Weight-Bearing) Your healthcare provider has prescribed crutches for you. Lean forward and bend your good knee. Alternate walking method. Keep the crutches on the step where you’re standing. Swing the unaffected leg forward in front of the crutches. However it has been advised you use crutches for a period of time to help support your recovery. False Partial weight-bearing allows you to place half of your weight on the operated extremity. Regain your balance. It’s simple while walking by a crutch without bearing body weight. Place as much weight as you have been instructed on the leg, with the remaining weight shared between the crutches. Do not wear long, floor-length robes or gowns while using crutches. The therapist will … (Push down through the crutch handles with your hands in order to avoid placing too much weight through the surgical/injured leg.). Non-weight bearing means that you’re unable to put weight on the injured leg. Sep 25, 2017 - Cindy demonstrates How to Use Crutches up and down Stairs both for non weight bearing and limited weight bearing. Crutches should be in the middle of the step, away from the edge. Going Down Stairs: 1. • Place both of your crutches one step in front of you, level with each other. They are less likely to fall over this way. You may combine the first two steps if you feel comfortable; advance your non-surgical/non-injured leg and both crutches forward at the same time. Partial weight bearing (PWB) means that you can put some weight on your affected leg; you will have been advised how much by the clinician that you saw. Your physician will decide whether you are to be non-weight bearing, toe-touch weight-bearing, partial weight-bearing, or weight-bearing as tolerated on your surgical/injured leg. This designation will be accompanied by a percentage value, which indicates exactly how much weight you are able to support through the leg. Push down on the back walker handle and handrail, shift weight onto strong leg and step down with the weak leg (non weight bearing- hold injured leg forward in order to clear the step) Then step down with the strong leg (non weight bearing- hop down with strong leg) Move the walker down to so that the back legs again rest on the step beside you CorelDRAW Version 12.0 Remember to keep partial weight bearing on the stairs. Full and partial weight bearing style of walking Going up stairs 1. 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