Crutches should match your height, place your hands in a slight elbow bend, and leave space below the armpits so your weight stays in your hands.
Badly fitted crutches can make a short walk feel rough. They can rub your ribs, jam your shoulders, and leave your hands sore after a few minutes. A good fit changes that fast. You stand taller, your steps feel steadier, and the crutches stop fighting you.
The fit comes down to three things: the top position, the handgrip position, and the tip placement on the floor. Get those right, and most of the awkwardness disappears. Get them wrong, and every doorway, curb, and staircase feels harder than it should.
This article walks through the fit step by step, then shows what to check while standing and walking. It also points out the red flags that tell you the crutches still need a tweak.
Why Crutch Fit Matters On The First Day
Crutches are not meant to carry your weight through your armpits. Your hands do the work. That single point clears up a lot of confusion. If the top pad is jammed into your underarm, the crutch is too tall, your posture changes, and your upper body gets tired fast.
A clean fit also helps you move in a straighter line. You waste less energy, your steps stay more even, and the rubber tips land where you expect them to. That matters indoors, on ramps, and on slick floors where a rushed step can throw you off balance.
- The top of an underarm crutch should sit below the armpit, not into it.
- The handgrip should let your elbow bend a little, not lock straight.
- The tips should land slightly out to the side and a bit ahead of your feet.
- Your shoulders should stay relaxed, not shrugged up toward your ears.
How Do You Adjust Crutches For Daily Walking?
Start with the shoes you plan to wear most. That part gets skipped all the time. A thick sole or running shoe changes your standing height enough to throw off the fit.
Set The Height First
Stand upright on a flat floor with the crutch tips placed a little out to the side and a little ahead of your toes. For underarm crutches, the top pad should sit about 1 to 1 1/2 inches below your armpit. MedlinePlus sizing instructions use that same range and also note that the handles should line up around hip level.
If you use elbow crutches, the cuff sits around the upper forearm while the handgrip lines up with your wrist crease when your arm hangs naturally. The cuff should not pinch your arm or slide so low that it flops around with each step.
Then Set The Handgrips
Once the crutch length looks right, adjust the handgrips. Grip the handles and let your arms settle. Your elbows should have a slight bend. You do not want a deep bend that crowds your shoulders, and you do not want your elbows locked flat.
That small bend gives you room to push down through the handles as you move. It also helps the crutches land with more control. If your wrists feel cranked back or your shoulders lift, the handgrips need another pass.
Lock The Hardware Before You Move
Check every push button, pin, or screw after each change. Wiggle the lower section and the handgrip section. If anything shifts, stop there and secure it before you take a step. A loose adjustment point can turn a normal walk into a hard fall.
Standing Check: What A Good Fit Looks Like
Once the settings are close, do a standing check before you start walking around the room. This is where small fit problems show up.
- Stand tall with your gaze forward.
- Place the crutch tips slightly to the side and a bit ahead of your feet.
- Let your shoulders drop naturally.
- Grip the handles and notice your elbows.
- Check that the top pads are clear of your armpits.
You should feel your weight travel into your palms. Your neck should not tense up. Your ribs should not feel squeezed. If the crutches feel like they are shoving you upward into a shrug, lower them. If you feel folded over, raise them a notch and check again.
| Fit Check | What You Want | What A Poor Fit Feels Like |
|---|---|---|
| Top pad position | About 1 to 1 1/2 inches below the armpit | Pad presses into underarm or hangs too low |
| Handgrip height | Hands near hip or wrist-crease level with a slight elbow bend | Elbows lock straight or bend too much |
| Shoulders | Relaxed and level | Raised, tight, or uneven |
| Wrists | Neutral while gripping | Folded back or twisted inward |
| Posture | Upright, eyes forward | Hunched, leaning, or bent at the waist |
| Tip placement | Slightly out to the side and ahead of the toes | Too close, crossing, or too far forward |
| Weight pressure | Through the hands | Into the armpits, ribs, or neck |
| Hardware feel | Firm, no wobble | Clicking, shifting, or loose parts |
Underarm Crutches And Elbow Crutches Need Different Checks
People often lump all crutches together, but the fit points are not identical. Underarm crutches and elbow crutches each have their own sweet spot.
Underarm Crutches
These are the classic axillary crutches with a top pad under each arm. The top pad must stay clear of the armpit. A bit of space matters because pressure in that area can irritate nerves and leave your arms numb or tingly. The handgrips should let you bear weight through your hands instead.
Elbow Crutches
These are also called forearm crutches. The cuff wraps around the forearm, and the handgrip height does more of the fit work. British Columbia’s forearm crutch instructions place the handgrip at the wrist crease with the arm relaxed, which is a clean cue to use at home.
Some elbow crutches also let you move the cuff. You want the cuff high enough to stay controlled, yet not so high that it digs into the elbow when you swing forward.
Common Signs Your Crutches Are Adjusted Wrong
Your body usually tells you when the fit is off. The trick is knowing which complaint points to which fix.
- Sore armpits: the crutches are too tall, or you are leaning onto the top pads.
- Wrist pain: the handgrips are set awkwardly, or you are twisting your hands to hold them.
- Raised shoulders: the crutches are too tall.
- Hunched posture: the crutches may be too short.
- Crutch tips clipping your shoes: the tips are landing too close to your feet.
- Wobble or clicking: a pin, bolt, or lower leg section is loose.
If you are still not sure, compare both sides. One crutch sometimes ends up a notch taller than the other after transport or storage. That single mismatch can make walking feel oddly uneven.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix To Try |
|---|---|---|
| Armpit pressure | Crutches too tall | Lower height and shift weight into hands |
| Elbows locked | Handgrips too low | Raise handgrips slightly |
| Elbows too bent | Handgrips too high | Lower handgrips one setting |
| Hunched forward | Crutches too short | Raise overall height and recheck posture |
| Shoulders bunched up | Crutches too tall | Lower overall height |
| Forearm cuff rubbing | Cuff placed badly | Shift cuff position if adjustable |
Walking, Sitting, And Stairs After The Fit Is Set
A proper fit is half the job. The other half is using the crutches in a way that matches the fit.
Walking
Move the crutches first, then move the injured or weaker side as instructed by your clinician, then bring the stronger leg through. Keep the crutches wide enough that they do not tangle with your feet. The tips should land flat, not on their edges.
Sitting Down
Back up until you feel the chair on the backs of your legs. Hold both crutches on one side if that is how you were taught, or keep one in each hand if that feels steadier and matches your training. Reach for the chair before you lower yourself. Do not drop straight down while the crutch tips are still out in front.
Stairs
Stairs are where bad fit gets exposed fast. If the crutches feel too long, too short, or wobbly, fix that before you try a full flight. NHS Fife’s crutch advice also ties good adjustment to upright posture, which is exactly what you want before tackling steps and turns.
If you were shown a stair method by a clinician, stick with that method. If you were not shown one, do not guess your way through a staircase when you are tired or carrying bags.
When A Small Adjustment Is Not Enough
Sometimes the problem is not the setting. It is the crutch itself. Worn rubber tips, flattened pads, bent shafts, and loose handgrips can make a correctly sized crutch feel awful. If a crutch rocks on the floor or the rubber tip looks smooth, replace the worn part before blaming your posture.
Also pay attention to numbness, tingling, or sharp pain in the hands, arms, shoulders, or underarms. That is not a cue to “push through.” It is a cue to stop and get the fit checked again.
A good crutch fit should feel steady, not punishing. You should be able to stand tall, breathe easily, and place your weight through your hands without your upper body fighting back. Once you feel that, you will know the setup is close.
References & Sources
- MedlinePlus.“Using crutches.”Gives underarm crutch sizing points, including space below the armpit and handle height near hip level.
- Government of British Columbia.“Forearm Crutches.”Shows how to set forearm crutch handgrips at the wrist crease with the arm relaxed.
- NHS Fife.“Using Elbow Crutches.”Links correct adjustment with upright posture and safe day-to-day use of elbow crutches.