How high are you supposed to set your crutches? Is it so you can stand straight and tha it is touching your armpits?
2007-04-11 10:40:47 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
When you stand up straight you should be able to just fit two fingers bewteen the top of the cruthces and your arm pits.
The measure meant for height on the cruthces is just a guide line and often isn't very accurate.
Just remember when you use them let the weight rest in your hands, don't lean on the top of the crutches with your shoulders otherwise you will wear out or injure your shoulders. Also there's alot of nerves and blood vessels that run through the area under your arms and learning on the crutches could cause damage to those as well.
2007-04-11 10:46:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For this you need someone to help you out.
Hold up your left hand like you are giving a pledge (elbow in line with your shoulder, and hand pointing towards the ceiling). Then stick your right arm straight out. Then have your friend adjust the height of the crutches so that the length is equal to the distance between your left elbow and the tips of the fingers of your right hand. (have them hold the crutch up to your arms to compare)
To get the hand grips at the proper height place a crutch straight up, stand up tall with arms at your side... The hand grips should be at the same level as your wrist.
When you use the crutches your elbow should be at about a 30 degree angle.
I am going to make a guess and say that the reason why you are asking this question is because you are using crutches and are getting a rash in your armpits from the crutches??? When you use crutches the only time they should touch your armpits is when you are resting. When you walk with them they should be only touching the side of your arm.
A trick though, for those who are not use to crutches/ not very coordinated is to tie a hand towel around the armpit rest of each crutch, this will give it some padding and hopefully not rub your skin off.
Hope that helps!
2007-04-11 13:49:58 · answer #2 · answered by Dodge 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the top should be about 2-3 inches below your arm pit when you are standing up straight. The hand grip should be adjusted so that you elbows and arms create a 45 degree angle. use your hands and arms to support you weight rather than your arm pits or your underarm and ribs where the crutches rub will become sore . If you need crutches the doctor who prescribed them or the medical supply place should adjust them and teach you how to use them correctly.
2007-04-11 11:26:50 · answer #3 · answered by littledevilinyourcup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are supposed to be about 2 inches below your armpits when you're standing up straight.
And in my experience,they need to be set about 2 inches above your actual height.
2007-04-13 04:50:50 · answer #4 · answered by singdancerunlife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine were just below my armpits, maybe two inches, when standing straight up. However the hand grips when in that posistion were so my elbows were slightly bent.
2007-04-11 10:46:20 · answer #5 · answered by drivershunnyhunny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
on most crutches they have the measurements on the side saying 5'0, 5'5, 6'0 etc.
set it to your height because they are set to go at a certain height to where they are fit perfectly for you
2007-04-11 10:45:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
your arms have to be a little bended in elbow when you hold handles and they are a little below armpits.
2007-04-11 17:37:36 · answer #7 · answered by Natalie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋