If you’re wondering what to do with crutches, you’re likely in one of two situations: you just got a pair and need to use them correctly, or you’re done with them and want to know your options. Both are worth covering, because using crutches wrong can cause nerve damage, and tossing them in the trash wastes equipment that someone else could use.
How to Fit Crutches Properly
Before you take a single step, your crutches need to be adjusted to your body. A poor fit is more than uncomfortable. Leaning your weight into the armpit pads can compress nerves in your arm, leading to numbness, tingling, or temporary loss of hand function.
Start by standing upright in your normal shoes. Place the tip of each crutch about 5 cm (2 inches) out from the side of your shoe and about 15 cm (6 inches) in front of your toes. From this position, adjust the overall length so the top of the crutch sits two to three finger widths below your armpit. That gap is critical. Your hands carry your weight, not your armpits.
Next, adjust the handgrip so your elbow bends about 20 to 30 degrees. If the grips are too low and your arms are nearly straight, you won’t have the leverage to support yourself safely. If they’re too high, your shoulders will hunch and fatigue quickly.
Walking With Crutches
The basic technique depends on how much weight you’re allowed to put on your injured leg. If you’re partial weight-bearing, you move both crutches forward together, then step through with your injured leg (putting only the allowed amount of weight on it), followed by your good leg. If you’re non-weight-bearing, the injured foot never touches the ground. You swing both crutches ahead, then hop through on your good leg.
Keep your core engaged and look ahead, not down at your feet. Take smaller steps than you think you need to. Wider crutch placement gives you a more stable base, but don’t spread them so far that you’re off balance laterally.
How to Handle Stairs
Stairs on crutches are intimidating, but there’s a simple rule: go up with the good leg first, go down with the bad leg first. The phrase “up with the good, down with the bad” is the standard teaching for a reason.
Going up with a handrail: Hold the handrail with the hand on your uninjured side. Tuck both crutches under the armpit on your injured side. Step up with your good foot first, straighten that knee to lift your body, then bring your crutches and injured leg up to meet it. If there’s no handrail, keep one crutch in each hand and move the crutches with your injured leg as a single unit, letting your strong leg do the climbing.
Going down with a handrail: Again, handrail on the uninjured side, both crutches in the other hand. Lower your crutches and injured leg down to the next step first. Support your weight between the rail and crutches, then slowly bring your good leg down. Don’t hop. Controlled, deliberate movements prevent falls.
Keeping Crutches in Good Shape
The rubber tips on the bottom of your crutches are the only thing between you and a slippery floor. Check them regularly for cracks, smooth spots, or uneven wear. If the tread pattern has worn flat or you can see the metal tube underneath, replace the tips immediately. Replacement tips cost a few dollars at any pharmacy or online and simply push on over the tube end.
Armpit pads and handgrip covers also compress over time. If the padding feels thin or the foam has hardened, replacement pads are inexpensive and make a noticeable difference in comfort. Wrap the handgrips with a thin towel or gel cover if your palms are getting sore, since your hands are bearing your full body weight with every step.
On wet surfaces, slow down significantly. Rubber tips lose traction on tile, polished concrete, and wet pavement. Avoid throw rugs and loose cords at home.
When You’re Ready to Stop Using Them
Transitioning off crutches typically happens in stages, not all at once. Your provider may move you from two crutches to one (used on the opposite side from your injury), then to a cane, then to unassisted walking. The key milestones are usually that you can bear full weight without pain, walk without a noticeable limp, and have enough strength and balance in the injured leg to support yourself through a full stride. Rushing this process increases the risk of reinjury or compensatory injuries in your hip or back.
What to Do With Crutches You No Longer Need
Once you’re done with your crutches, you have several good options beyond throwing them away.
Donate Them
Crutches are one of the easiest medical devices to pass along. Organizations like MedShare accept gently used durable medical equipment and redistribute it to communities in need, both in the U.S. and internationally. They follow World Health Organization donation guidelines to ensure quality. Many local options exist too: Goodwill, Salvation Army, churches, free clinics, and physical therapy offices often accept crutches. Some hospitals have medical equipment lending closets where you can drop them off for the next patient. Call ahead to confirm, but most places will take them if they’re in decent condition.
Sell or Give Them Away Locally
Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and neighborhood apps like Nextdoor are full of people looking for affordable crutches. You won’t get much money for them (most used pairs sell for $10 to $20), but listing them for free pickup is a fast way to keep them out of a landfill. “Buy Nothing” groups on Facebook are especially good for this.
Recycle the Materials
Most standard crutches are made of aluminum tubing, which is highly recyclable. If the crutches are too worn to donate, strip off the rubber tips, foam pads, and any plastic components, then take the bare aluminum to a scrap metal recycler or check whether your municipal recycling program accepts metal items. The rubber and foam parts generally go in the trash, but the aluminum has real scrap value and can be recycled indefinitely.
Keep a Pair at Home
If you have storage space, holding onto one set of crutches isn’t a bad idea. Ankle sprains, knee injuries, and post-surgical recovery are common enough that having crutches ready in a closet can save you a late-night pharmacy trip. Just replace the rubber tips before using them again if they’ve been sitting for years.