Neurodiversity information for parents and young people
Your status is ____________________ weight-bearing for _________ weeks. |
Types of weight-bearing status
Full weight-bearing
Full weight-bearing means you are allowed to put your full body weight through your affected leg. This means you can put weight through the affected leg as you usually do.
(Your affected leg is the one that has been injured or operated on).
We advise you to use crutches for a while to help support your recovery. We will let you know how long we advise you to use crutches for.
Partial weight-bearing
Partial weight-bearing means you are only allowed to put half your body weight through your affected leg.
We advise you to take half of your body weight through your arms and elbow crutches, when you step onto your affected leg.
Touch weight-bearing
Touch weight-bearing means you are only allowed to put a small amount of body weight through your affected leg.
When you step onto your affected leg, you must only touch the foot lightly on the floor. Most of your body weight must go through your arms and elbow crutches.
Your affected leg must simply rest on the floor lightly, to help you balance.
When we fit your crutches for the first time, we will show you how to use them to walk, stand, sit and go up/down stairs.
Walking
Follow these instructions when walking with crutches.
- Place both crutches in front of you.
- Step forward with your affected leg so your foot is in line with your crutches.
- Step your non-affected leg alongside or past the affected leg. Take a normal step if you feel able to do so.
Try to walk as normally as possible, putting one foot in front of the other if you can.
Standing and sitting
Standing
Follow these instructions when using your crutches to stand.
- Place the crutches together, with the handles facing in opposite directions to create a ‘H’ shape.
- Hold the crutch handles firmly with one hand. Put the other hand on the surface you are sitting and use it to help push yourself up.
- When you are standing and feel well-balanced, place your hands through the rings on the crutches. Do this with the crutch handles facing forwards.
Sitting
Follow these instructions when using your crutches to sit (eg on a chair or bed).
- Take your arms out of the crutches and place the crutches into the ‘H’ shape.
- With one hand placed firmly on the crutch handles, lower yourself down. Do this by placing your other hand on the chair or bed behind you.
Remember
Remember your weight-bearing status when you step and put weight through your affected leg.
Stairs and steps
Going up stairs
Follow these instructions when going up stairs with elbow crutches.
Always start by standing close to the first step.
Holding your crutch
- Take the crutch nearest to the handrail or banister and move it to your opposite hand. Do this by opening your fingers and carrying it in a T shape (see photo).
- Make sure you are holding this horizontal crutch on the outside of the standing crutch. This is so that it falls away from you if you drop it.
- Use your free hand to firmly hold onto the handrail or banister.
The ABC sequence
Repeat this sequence, taking one step at a time.
| A: Able leg | Place your good (able) leg onto the first step. |
| B: Bad leg | Place your bad (affected) leg onto the first step. |
| C: Crutch | Place your crutch onto the first step. |
Remember
Remember your weight-bearing status when you step and put weight through your affected leg.
Going down stairs
Follow these instructions when going down stairs with elbow crutches.
The CBA sequence (the reverse of going up stairs)
Repeat this sequence, taking one step at a time.
| C: Crutch | Place your crutch down onto the first step. |
| B: Bad leg | Step your bad (affected) leg down onto the first step. |
| A: Able leg | Place your good (able) leg onto the first step. |
Remember
Remember your weight-bearing status when you step and put weight through your affected leg.
Safety tips
- Regularly check the ferrules (rubber ends of the crutches). Make sure they are not worn and you can still see the ‘ring’ pattern.
- Make sure your crutches are a matching pair and are set at the same height.
- Do not walk on wet floors. Crutches can easily slip on wet surfaces.
- Wear supportive footwear that will not come loose or fall off.
- Move any hazards in your home, such as rugs or mats.
Contact information
Kingston Hospital Outpatient Physiotherapy Department
Telephone: