Crutches and children - sitting and getting up from a chair
Sitting down in a chair and getting up again with crutches can be tricky until your child learns how to do it. Help your child learn how to do this safely.
To Sit Down
Your child should:
- Place the chair against a wall or in a secure place so it cannot move or slide. Use a chair with arm rests if available.
- Back up against the chair.
- Put legs against the front seat of the chair.
- Hold the crutches at the child's injured side and use the other hand to hold the arm of the chair.
- Use their good leg to lower down in the chair.
- Use the arm rests for support if needed.
To Get Up
Your child should:
- Slide forward to the edge of the chair.
- Hold both crutches on their injured side. Lean forward. Hold the chair arm with the other hand.
- Push up on the handgrip of the crutch and the arm of the chair.
- Stand up by pushing up with their good leg.
- Put crutches under their arms to start walking.
References
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. How to use crutches, canes, and walkers.
Edelstein J. Canes, crutches, and walkers. In: Webster JB, Murphy DP, eds. Atlas of Othoses and Assistive Devices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 36.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 11/7/2024
Reviewed by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
