The most effective way to make crutches comfortable is to add padding to three key contact points: the underarm tops, the hand grips, and (for forearm crutches) the cuffs. But padding alone won’t solve the problem if your crutches are poorly fitted or you’re leaning on them incorrectly. Here’s a complete breakdown of what to add, how to adjust, and what habits to fix.
Underarm Padding Options
The tops of standard axillary crutches press directly into your armpits with every step, and the factory pads are thin and stiff. Aftermarket pads made from sheepskin-style material or layered foam are the most popular upgrade. Sheepskin pads are breathable, machine washable, and hold their shape through repeated use. They reduce friction and distribute pressure more evenly across the area under your arms, which cuts down on chafing and skin irritation.
Foam pads lined with resilient cushioning are another solid choice. They slip over the existing crutch tops and add a thicker buffer between the hard plastic and your body. Gel pads exist too, and they conform to your anatomy a bit more than foam, though they tend to be heavier and can feel warm in hot weather. For most people, a quality foam or sheepskin pad is the best combination of comfort, durability, and breathability.
If you’re on a budget or need something immediately, you can wrap the crutch tops with a thick towel or pipe insulation foam secured with duct tape. These DIY fixes wear out quickly and tend to shift around, but they’ll get you through a few days until proper pads arrive.
Hand Grip Upgrades
Your hands take more punishment than your armpits on crutches, because they’re supposed to bear all of your weight. The standard rubber grips that come with most crutches are narrow, hard, and force your hand into a flat position that concentrates pressure on a small strip of your palm. After a few days, this leads to blisters, calluses, and aching wrists.
Ergonomic replacement grips solve this by widening the contact surface and filling the natural arch of your palm. A wider handle distributes weight across your entire hand instead of a thin line, which significantly reduces pain and fatigue. Some designs include a thumb groove that lets your thumb rest naturally rather than gripping tightly, and a contoured shape that keeps your wrist in a neutral position. Users of these grips consistently report being able to stay on crutches for longer stretches without hand or wrist pain.
Foam grip covers are a simpler option. They wrap around the existing handles and add cushioning without changing the shape. They help with soreness but don’t address the ergonomic issues the way a full grip replacement does. If you’re only on crutches for a week or two, foam covers are probably enough. If you’re looking at a month or more, investing in ergonomic grips is worth it.
Padding for Forearm Crutches
Forearm (Lofstrand) crutches have a different pressure problem. Instead of underarm tops, they have a cuff that wraps around your forearm, and the hard plastic edge of that cuff can dig into your skin and cause bruising. Neoprene-style cuff pads slide over the cuff and create a softer, breathable barrier. These are typically washable and designed to stay in place without slipping during use.
Forearm crutch handles benefit from the same upgrades as standard crutches. Padded foam handle covers or full ergonomic grip replacements both work. Look for non-slip versions, since forearm crutches rely even more heavily on hand grip for stability.
Why Proper Fit Matters More Than Padding
No amount of padding will fix crutches that are the wrong height. When you stand upright with your hands on the grips, your elbows should bend at roughly a 30-degree angle. There should be about a 2-inch gap between the top of the crutch pad and your armpit. If the crutch tops are pressing into your armpits when you stand still, the crutches are too tall.
Most crutches have push-pin height adjustments on both the main shaft and the hand grip position. Adjusting the overall height sets that 2-inch armpit gap, and adjusting the hand grip position sets the elbow angle. Getting both right makes a dramatic difference in comfort, because it ensures your body weight flows through your hands and arms rather than grinding into your armpits.
The Technique That Prevents Nerve Damage
This is the single most important comfort tip, and most people get it wrong: never lean on the tops of your crutches. Your body weight should go through your hands, not your armpits. To move forward, squeeze the crutch tops between your upper arms and ribcage for stability, but push down through your palms on the hand grips to support your weight.
Leaning on the armpit pads compresses the brachial plexus, a bundle of nerves that runs through your armpit and controls sensation and movement in your arm and hand. This compression can cause a condition called crutch palsy, which produces numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected arm. Most cases in children resolve on their own within 8 to 12 weeks, but severe cases can involve significant nerve damage to the radial, median, and ulnar nerves, sometimes with little improvement even after two months. Treatment requires stopping crutch use entirely and sometimes splinting the wrist.
If your hands are too sore to bear your weight properly, that’s a sign you need better hand grip padding or ergonomic grips, not a reason to shift weight to your armpits.
Adding Storage Without Losing Balance
Carrying anything while on crutches is a challenge, and stuffing items in your pockets or trying to hold a bag throws off your balance and grip. Crutch pouches attach to the shaft below the hand grips using loop-and-strap systems that keep them secure without interfering with your hands. They hang below the grip area so you can still grab the handles normally.
Keep the pouch light. A phone, wallet, keys, and a small water bottle are fine. Loading it with heavy items shifts the crutch’s center of gravity and makes each swing-through step feel unsteady. If you need to carry something heavier, a small backpack is a better choice since the weight stays centered on your body.
When to Replace Worn Padding
Crutch pads compress over time and lose their cushioning ability. If you can feel the hard plastic through the pad when you press down with your fingers, or if the foam has flattened to less than half its original thickness, it’s time to replace it. Rubber grip covers that have become smooth, cracked, or sticky from wear should also be swapped out, since they lose their ability to absorb pressure and can become slippery.
Rubber crutch tips wear down too. Check the bottom of each tip for smooth spots or uneven wear. A worn tip reduces traction on hard floors and wet surfaces, which makes every step less stable and forces you to grip harder, adding strain to your hands and wrists. Replacement tips are inexpensive and available at most pharmacies.