The best way to cushion crutches depends on where they’re causing discomfort, but the most important thing to know is this: if your armpits are sore, extra padding alone won’t fix the problem. Most crutch pain comes from leaning your body weight on the underarm pads, which is the wrong technique. Proper cushioning combined with correct form will make a significant difference in comfort.
Why Crutches Hurt (and Why Padding Is Only Half the Fix)
Crutches create pressure in two main areas: the underarm pad pressing into your armpit, and the hand grip pressing into your palms. Of the two, underarm pressure is far more serious. The armpit contains major nerves and blood vessels sitting close to the surface. Leaning your weight on the top pads can compress the axillary nerve, causing pain and weakness in your shoulder, or the radial nerve, leading to numbness and tingling in your hand, thumb, and first two fingers. This nerve damage, sometimes called “crutch palsy,” can take weeks or months to resolve.
Cleveland Clinic’s guidance is clear: always support your weight through your hands on the grips, not on the underarm pads. The top pads are meant to stabilize the crutch against your ribcage, not bear your body weight. If you’ve been pressing your armpits down hard onto the crutches, switching to proper hand-supported technique will relieve more pain than any amount of cushioning.
Check Your Fit Before Adding Padding
Before you wrap anything around your crutches, make sure they’re adjusted to the right height. When you’re standing upright with your arms relaxed at your sides, there should be a two to three finger gap between the top of the crutch pad and your armpit. If the crutches are too tall, they’ll push up into your armpits constantly. If they’re too short, you’ll hunch forward, straining your back and shoulders.
The hand grips should sit at wrist height so your elbows bend slightly (about 15 to 30 degrees) when you hold them. This position lets your arms absorb your weight efficiently without excessive strain. Many crutches have adjustable grip positions as well as adjustable overall height, so check both.
Gel Pads vs. Memory Foam vs. DIY Options
Once your crutches fit correctly and you’re using proper technique, adding cushioning to the underarm pads and hand grips can make long days on crutches much more tolerable. Here are the main options:
- Gel pads are often the top recommendation. They distribute pressure evenly, which reduces hotspots and friction sores. Gel is water-resistant, so it won’t absorb sweat or develop odor over time. Quality gel pads also hold their shape through weeks of daily use, making them the most durable option.
- Memory foam pads are the most common aftermarket solution. They mold to your body’s contours and do a good job of redistributing pressure away from stress points. Memory foam comes in various densities, so look for medium to firm options that won’t bottom out after a few days. Softer foam compresses quickly and loses its cushioning effect.
- Towels or fabric wrapping are the cheapest fix if you need something right now. Wrap a hand towel around the pad and secure it with tape or rubber bands. This works in a pinch, but towels slip out of position with use, lose their firmness quickly, and retain moisture. For anything beyond a day or two, it’s worth upgrading.
Commercial crutch pad sets typically cost between $10 and $25 and include covers for both the underarm pads and the hand grips. They attach with hook-and-loop fasteners that wrap securely around the existing pads. Look for sets with textured or non-slip linings, which keep the padding from shifting during use.
How to Cushion the Hand Grips
Since your hands are carrying your full body weight with every step, grip cushioning matters just as much as underarm padding. The standard hard rubber or plastic grips on most crutches create pressure points across your palms that can lead to blisters, calluses, and hand fatigue within the first day of use.
Padded grip covers made from contoured foam wrap around the existing grips and fasten with hook-and-loop closures. They work by spreading the pressure across a wider area of your palm instead of concentrating it on a narrow bar. If you don’t have aftermarket grips available, you can wrap the handles with athletic tape or pipe insulation foam from a hardware store, secured tightly with tape. Cycling gloves or padded weight-lifting gloves are another practical option, since they add a gel or foam layer directly to your palms.
DIY Cushioning That Works
If you want something better than a towel but aren’t ordering commercial pads, a few household materials work well. Pipe insulation foam (the kind sold in tubes at hardware stores for about $3) can be cut to length and slipped over both the underarm pad and the hand grip. It’s lightweight, stays in place, and provides decent shock absorption. Secure the ends with duct tape or medical tape.
For the underarm pads specifically, a folded washcloth or piece of fleece fabric taped in place gives a softer surface than bare plastic. Some people layer two materials, placing a thin piece of foam underneath fabric for both cushioning and a comfortable surface texture. Whatever you use, check it daily for compression and shifting. DIY padding tends to flatten faster than commercial options and may need replacing every few days.
Signs That Something Is Wrong
Soreness and mild discomfort are normal during your first few days on crutches, especially in your hands and upper arms. But certain symptoms mean you should stop using the crutches and get medical attention. Numbness or tingling in your thumb, index finger, or middle finger suggests nerve compression in your armpit. Weakness when trying to straighten your elbow, extend your wrist, or coordinate your fingers points to radial nerve damage. Pain or unusual sensations in the back of your hand or the outer part of your shoulder are also warning signs.
If you notice any of these, the issue is almost always improper weight bearing on the underarm pads rather than insufficient cushioning. No amount of padding will protect these nerves if you’re resting your body weight on them. Adjusting your technique, checking your crutch height, and in some cases switching to forearm crutches (which eliminate underarm pressure entirely) are the real solutions.