Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to choose/adjust the crutch to appropriate height, and grip as follows:
- Crutches usually come with adjustable markings to match up for different individuals’ height.
- Adjust this marking to your height and the crutch more or less should be appropriate for your use.
- Alternatively, stand upright against a wall wearing your regular walking shoes, with hands falling on the sides freely.
- You can choose a crutch or adjust the height of crutch such that the hand grip on the crutch levels up with the wrist of hand you plan to hold the crutch in.
- Make sure that after having the crutch in place, there is a 2 fingers width space between the top of crutch and the armpit. Noncompliance with this instruction can result in the crutch compressing against the nerve in the armpit, leading to nerve injury, resulting in altered sensation and poor grip in the hand.
- Standing upright, holding the hand grip of the crutch in your hand and having the top of the crutch in your armpit, your elbow should make an angle of about 15 – 20 degrees.
- Crutches can come with handgrips in various contours, such as, ribbed or padded, to enhance the grip and promote safety in users.
