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Crutches for a sprained ankle or knee: when you need them, how to fit them and how to get around

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-13.

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Brace, crutches or both?

The right support depends on how bad the sprain is. Mayo Clinic says that, depending on severity, a clinician may suggest an elastic bandage, sports tape or an ankle support brace to stabilize the ankle, and that a severe sprain may need a cast or walking boot to keep the ankle still. Crutches sit alongside those options rather than replacing them.

Crutches tend to make sense when:

• Walking on the injured leg is painful. Mayo Clinic says you may need crutches until the pain improves.
• Your clinician has told you to keep some or all weight off the leg for now.
• You have a severe sprain in a cast or walking boot and your clinician wants the weight kept off it.

If you can walk in a brace without much pain, you may not need crutches at all. Ask at your visit. Cleveland Clinic says your provider decides which type you use and for how long. For choosing the brace itself, see ankle braces for a sprain or, for the knee, knee braces for an LCL sprain.

Know your weight-bearing order first

Before you practice, find out which of these your clinician wants. The terms below come from MedlinePlus and Cleveland Clinic.

The steps on this page describe the strictest case, with the injured foot kept off the floor. If you are allowed some weight, ask your provider or physical therapist how to change the steps.

Underarm or forearm crutches

Cleveland Clinic describes three main styles:

• Underarm (axillary): the most common kind, with a padded top that sits under the arm, a straight frame and a hand grip.
• Forearm (elbow or Lofstrand): a supportive cuff fits around the back of the upper arm, just above the elbow, and there is a hand grip below it. These are usually shorter than underarm models.
• Gutter (platform): less common; the forearm rests in a padded pocket on top of a straight pole, with a hand grip at the front.

Let your provider or therapist choose the style and check it on you.

How to fit underarm crutches

1. Stand up straight with the crutches under your arms.
2. Set the overall length so the top of each crutch sits about 1 to 2 inches below your armpit, as AAOS OrthoInfo advises. MedlinePlus gives 1 to 1 1/2 inches, and Cleveland Clinic describes about two finger widths.
3. Move the hand grips so they line up with the top of your hip line.
4. Hold the grips: your elbows should be slightly bent, not locked straight.
5. Take your weight through your hands. Leaning on the underarm pads can hurt your shoulders and the nerves and blood vessels under your arms, Cleveland Clinic warns.

Cleveland Clinic suggests asking your provider or physical therapist to help adjust the crutches before you use them, and says your provider will show you how to stand, walk and use stairs before you try them at home.

Walking, turning and sitting down

Walking with the injured foot off the floor:

1. Lean forward a little and place both crutch tips about 1 foot ahead of you, slightly wider than your body.
2. Lean on the grips and bring your body forward slowly between the crutches.
3. Finish the step on your good leg, then move the crutches ahead again.
4. Look where you are going, not at your feet.

MedlinePlus adds two habits: keep the tips about 3 inches from your feet so you do not trip on them, and turn by pivoting on your strong leg rather than the injured one.

Sitting: back up to a sturdy chair, put both crutches in the hand on your injured side, reach for the armrest with your free hand, and lower yourself slowly. Rest the crutches upside down so they do not fall over. Standing up is the reverse: scoot forward, hold both crutches on the injured side, push up from the chair and balance on the good leg before you take a crutch in each hand.

Stairs

Practice stairs with someone beside you first, and use a handrail when there is one.

• Going up: the good leg steps up first, then the crutches and the injured leg follow.
• Going down: the crutches and the injured leg go down first, then the good leg follows.
• With a rail: OrthoInfo suggests holding the rail with one hand and tucking both crutches under the opposite arm.
• Not feeling safe: sit on the step and scoot up or down one stair at a time, using your hands and good leg.

Safety at home and outside

Crutches do not stop falls by themselves. Cleveland Clinic warns that crutch tips can be slippery when wet and advises checking the bottom of your crutches for debris that could make you slip. These steps from MedlinePlus and OrthoInfo help make your home safer:

• Pick up throw rugs and cords, and clear clutter from walkways.
• Keep floors clean and dry.
• Wear shoes or slippers with rubber or non-skid soles. Skip heels and leather soles.
• Check the rubber tips each day and replace them when worn.
• Use a nightlight between bedroom and bathroom.
• Carry things in a backpack, fanny pack or shoulder bag so both hands stay on the grips.

If you still feel shaky, MedlinePlus notes that a walker may suit you better than crutches. When you must keep weight off a foot for longer, a knee scooter is another option to raise with your clinician, and this guide covers scooters for fractures.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Do you need crutches for a sprained ankle?

Not always. Mayo Clinic says you may need crutches until the pain improves, and that, depending on severity, an elastic bandage, sports tape or a brace may be used to stabilize the ankle. Your clinician will tell you how much weight the ankle can take.

How do I know my crutches are the right height?

Standing straight, the top should sit about 1 to 2 inches below your armpit, the grips should meet the top of your hip, and your elbows should bend slightly. Have a provider or therapist check the first fit.

Why do my armpits hurt when I use crutches?

You are probably leaning on the top pads. Cleveland Clinic warns this can hurt your shoulders and the nerves and blood vessels under your arms; shift your weight onto your hands and recheck the height.

Can I use just one crutch for a sprain?

Only if your clinician says so. Cleveland Clinic says that after some injuries a provider may say you only need one crutch, held on the side opposite the injured leg.

How long will I need crutches after a sprain?

It depends on the injury, so follow your provider's timeline. Cleveland Clinic notes that stopping too soon can lead to another injury.

Sources

• How To Use Crutches, Canes, and Walkers (orthoinfo.org), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo)
• Using crutches (medlineplus.gov), NIH / MedlinePlus
• Crutches: What They Are, Types & How To Use Properly (my.clevelandclinic.org), Cleveland Clinic
• Sprained ankle: Diagnosis and treatment (mayoclinic.org), Mayo Clinic
• Sprained ankle: Symptoms and causes (mayoclinic.org), Mayo Clinic

Sources checked 2026-10-13.