Weight bearing with Crutches and Zimmers / Walking Frame

When you are issued with crutches, the hospital staff will adjust them for your height. Using crutches at the wrong height can lead to back pain. If you keep the handles pointing forwards and your arms close to your sides you will be safer and use less energy when moving.

Elbow crutches

• Stand in a relaxed upright position with feet shoulder-width apart and arms resting by your side with a slight bend in your elbow.
• Place the crutch by your side approximately 15-20cm away from the outside of your foot.
• Measure the handle of the crutch so it is in line with your wrist crease.
• Also, ensure the cuff of the crutch is just below your elbow.
• To adjust the crutch, push the pins and slide the crutch up to shorten it or pull down to lengthen it to the appropriate height.
• Ensure both crutches are adjusted to the same length.

Wheeled zimmer frame

• Stand in a relaxed upright position with feet shoulder-width apart and arms resting by side with a slight bend in your elbow.
• Place the frame so feet are positioned in the middle of the frame.
• Measure the handles of the frame so it is in line with your wrist crease.
• To adjust the frame, push the pins and slide the frame up to shorten it or down to lengthen it to the appropriate height.
• Ensure all four feet are adjusted to the same length.

Full weight bearing (FWB) or weight bear as tolerated (WBAT)

This means you can put all your weight through the affected leg, or you can place a comfortable amount of weight through the affected leg.

Elbow crutches:

• Keeping your elbows by your side, place your crutches forwards in front of you approximately shoulder width apart.
• Step forward taking all your weight or a comfortable amount of weight through the affected leg.
• Step with your non-affected leg to bring your body level with the crutches.

x1 elbow crutch:

• Hold the crutch in the opposite hand to the affected leg.
• Keeping your elbow by your side, place your crutch forwards in front of you and step forwards taking all your weight or a comfortable amount of weight through the affected leg.
• Step through with your non-affected leg.

Non-weight bearing (NWB)

This means you cannot put any weight through the affected limb when you are standing up or walking around. This is necessary to provide time to allow the affected limb to heal.

Elbow crutches:

• Ensure that you keep your affected leg off the floor and behind you by bending your knee.
• Keeping your elbows by your side, place your crutches forwards in front of you approximately shoulder width apart.
• Take your weight through your arms and hop forwards with the non-affected leg, to bring your body level with the crutches.

Wheeled zimmer frame:

• Ensure that you keep your affected leg off the floor and behind you by bending your knee.
• Push the frame in front of you, and make sure all four feet are firmly on the floor.
• Take your weight through your arms and hop forwards with the non-affected leg, to bring your body into the middle of the frame.

Partial weight bearing (PWB)

This means you can put a small amount of your weight through the affected limb. This may be described as a percentage, for example, 50%. This means you can put 50% of your body weight through the affected limb. To get a feel for how much weight you can put through your affected limb, place it onto a bathroom scale and transfer the appropriate percentage of weight through it. For example, if you weigh 70 kilograms this means you can put up to 35 kilograms of weight through the affected limb.

Elbow crutches:

• Keeping your elbows by your side, place your crutches forwards in front of you approximately shoulder width apart.
• Take some of your weight through your arms, step forwards taking only some weight through your affected leg.
• Step with your non-affected leg to bring your body level with the crutches.

Wheeled zimmer frame:

• Push the frame in front of you, and make sure all four feet are firmly on the floor.
• Take some of your weight through your arms, step forwards taking only some weight through your affected leg.
• Step with your non-affected leg to bring your body into the middle of the frame.

Toe touch weight bearing (TTWB)

Elbow crutches:

• Let the toes of your affected leg touch the floor.
• Keeping your elbows by your side, place your crutches forwards in front of you approximately shoulder width apart.
• Take your weight through your arms, step forwards with the affected leg letting your toes touch the floor.
• Step with your non-affected leg to bring your body level with the crutches.

This means you can place your toes on the floor putting very minimal weight through the affected limb (the pressure should be light enough to avoid crushing eggshells

Non-weight bearing: Sit to stand

Elbow crutches:

• Hold the crutches by the handle in one hand, creating an H shape, and place your other hand on the arm of the chair.
• Move to the edge of the chair ensuring you are not putting any weight through your affected leg.
• Push through the crutches and the arm of the chair to stand up ensuring that you keep your affected leg off the floor.
• Once standing, place each arm one at a time through the arm cuffs and grip the handles firmly ready to walk.
• Place the crutches in front of you to help maintain your balance.

Wheeled zimmer frame:

• Move to the edge of the chair ensuring you are not putting any weight through your affected leg.
• Push through both arms of the chair to stand up ensuring that you keep your affected leg off the floor.
• Once standing, place both hands on the handles of the wheeled zimmer frame ready to walk.

Non-weight bearing: Stand to sit

Elbow crutches:

• Make sure you are close enough to the chair so that you can feel the chair with the back of the legs.
• Remove each arm one at a time from the arm cuffs of the crutches.
• Hold the crutches by the handle in one hand, creating a H shape and reach another hand back and place it on the arm of the chair.
• Slowly lower yourself into the chair ensuring that you keep your affected leg off the floor.

Wheeled zimmer frame:

• Make sure you are close enough to the chair so that you can feel the chair with the back of the legs.
• Reach both hands back and place them on the arms of the chair.
• Slowly lower yourself into the chair ensuring that you keep your affected leg off the floor.

Contact

For further information please contact the plaster room.

Cheltenham General Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 3148

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 8411

Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm

Returning equipment

Once you have finished using your crutches or frame, please return it via GIS Community Equipment