OrthBethesda Therapy Services Getting Arund Safely With Yur Crutches (Te-Tuch Weight Bearing) Yur physician will decide whether yu are t be nn weight bearing, te-tuch weight bearing, partial weight bearing, r weight bearing as tlerated n yur surgical/injured leg. These instructins are specifically fr patients that are te-tuch weight bearing (TTWB). It is very imprtant that yu adhere t yur weight-bearing instructins in rder t avid disrupting the healing prcess. The therapist will instruct yu n the apprpriate set-up and fitting f yur crutches. Te Tuch Weight Bearing (TTWB): Yur tes may rest n the grund while sitting r standing, but yu may nt place any weight thrugh this leg at any time. Set Up and Fitting: Standing straight with yur arm at yur side, the crutch handle shuld align with the inside f yur wrist. The height f the crutch shuld be adjusted s that there are 1-2 inches f space between the tp f the crutch and yur armpit. This is rughly the width f tw fingers.
General Instructins and Tips: Use yur crutches nly as instructed. Place nly the amunt f weight thrugh yur surgical/injured leg as specified by the physician. Use yur crutches fr all walking and standing activities until yur physician instructs yu therwise. Yur weight shuld be placed thrugh yur hands by pushing dwn thrugh the crutch handles. Never lean n yur crutches. Resting yur armpits n the crutches may cause nerve damage! Always use bth crutches. Using nly ne crutch may cause back prblems. Place weight evenly n bth crutches. Walk slwly and carefully. Have smene walk with yu initially until yu feel steady n yur feet. This is especially imprtant when walking n unlevel/uneven surfaces r stairs. Remve lse rugs r ther small bjects frm the flr in rder t minimize the risk f tripping. Wear apprpriately-fitted, lw-heeled shes. D nt wear slippers r high heels. D nt wear lng, flr-length rbes r gwns while using crutches. Avid slippery and/r wet flrs. Check the grund fr bjects that may cause crutches t slip ut frm under yu. Check the crutches daily fr cracks and/r lse screws. Replace wrn tips and unsafe parts. When nt in use, it is best t rest yur crutches upside dwn. They are less likely t fall ver this way. Walking: 1. Mve bth crutches 1-2 inches t the utside f each ft and 6-12 inches in frnt f yu. 2. Pushing dwn thrugh the crutch handles with yur hands, hp frward with yur nnsurgical/nn-injured leg s that it lands in the center f bth crutches. 3. Once yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg and bth crutches have advanced and yu feel steady, yu may rest the tes f yur surgical/injured leg n the grund if needed. Be careful nt t put any weight thrugh this leg.
Standing Up: 1. Sct frward in the chair t make it easier t stand. 2. Hld bth crutches in ne hand, n the side f yur surgical/injured leg. 3. Keeping yur surgical/injured leg in the air in frnt f yu the entire time, place the ft f yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg flat n the grund and place yur free hand n the armrest (r seat) f the chair. 4. Lean frward at yur hips, tighten yur cre muscles and then push dwn thrugh bth hands and yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg in rder t stand. 5. Once standing and steady, place ne crutch under each arm. 6. Once standing, yu may rest the tes f yur surgical/injured leg n the grund if needed. Be careful nt t place any weight thrugh this leg. Sitting Dwn: 1. Psitin yurself s that the backs f yur legs are tuching the chair. 2. Hld bth crutches in ne hand, n the side f yur surgical/injured leg. 3. Reach back with yur free hand until yu feel the armrest (r seat) f the chair. 4. With the surgical/injured leg raised in the air, slwly lwer yurself int the chair. 5. Once seated, yu may rest the tes f yur surgical/injured leg n the grund if needed. Be careful nt t place any weight thrugh this leg.
Ging Up Steps/Curbs: 1. Stand clse t the surface yu intend t g up. 2. Keep yur surgical/injured leg raised in the air behind yu s that the steps are nt in the way. 3. Pushing dwn thrugh the crutch handles with yur hands, bring yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg up nt the step by hpping. 4. Shift yur weight nt the nn-surgical/nn-injured leg and then bring bth crutches up nt the step. 5. At this pint, yu may rest the tes f yur surgical/injured leg n the grund if needed. Be careful nt t place any weight thrugh this ft. 6. If ging up multiple steps, repeat this pattern until yu have reached the tp. *If there is a railing available t use, hld bth crutches n the side f yur bdy ppsite the handrail and grab the handrail with yur free hand. Step up with yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg and then bring the crutches up.
Ging Dwn Steps/Curbs: 1. Stand clse t the end f the surface yu intend t g dwn. 2. Keep yur surgical/injured leg raised up in frnt f yu s that the stairs are ut f the way. 3. Lwer bth crutches dwn t the step belw. 4. Pushing dwn thrugh the crutch handles with yur hands, bring yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg dwn t meet the crutches by hpping. 5. At this pint, yu may rest the tes f yur surgical/injured leg n the grund if needed. Be careful nt t place any weight thrugh this ft. 6. If ging dwn multiple steps, repeat this pattern until yu have reached the bttm. *If there is a railing available t use, hld bth crutches n the side f yur bdy ppsite the handrail and grab the handrail with yur free hand. Lwer the crutches dwn t the next step, then lwer yur nn-surgical/nn-injured leg.