Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. The NHS has declared a 'crutch amnesty' to stop perfectly good hospital equipment 'littering living rooms' across the country. You have been provided with elbow crutches to help you walk safely whilst allowing you to protect the injured leg. Do not move your feet in front of your crutches as this can make you unsteady 5. Hold on to both of the crutches in your other hand. 2. Here are some instructions on how to use your crutches. Non-weight bearing with elbow crutches www.uhcw.nhs.uk 3 Step up Keep your injured leg off the floor, by bending your knee behind you. As you take weight on to the toes of the affected leg put some weight on the crutch and step the unaffected leg through. It will take a little time to get used to the crutches and so it is important you try not to rush. Position the cuff one to two inches below your elbow, around the thickest part of your forearm. �d@# You may like to read our basic guidelines for the use of crutches.. Assessment by a qualified Physiotherapist is recommended when considering walking and standing equipment. <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.32 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> endobj ESR Self Service and Payslip. • Stand close to the handrail and hold on with one hand. Safety It is important to check your elbow crutches regularly as over time they may get … For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You. Elbow crutches usually have two adjustment points. The following information will remind you how to use and care for your crutches. Step or hop up with your good leg first, supporting the affected leg with the handrail and the crutch, Now bring your affected leg up onto the step (if you are non-weight bearing do not put weight through this leg) followed by the crutch. About us Our Trust. Once in standing place both crutches one step in front of you, level with each other and bend the knee of your affected leg to ensure it stays off the ground. Please browse our complete range below. When fully weight bearing or weight bearing as tolerated, it is possible for you to progress to one crutch to help you walk, if you feel able to do so. Firstly put the supporting crutch down onto the next step first, ensure the crutch is firmly on the step so that it cannot slip forward off the edge. Sitting down. endobj Who we are and what we do Values and behaviours Sustainability Equality and diversity Our pledge on safety Tackling fraud ... How to use crutches GHPI0023_03_19. Get set for crutches at Argos. Figure 1 – Crutches Setup Only use the crutches as you were instructed by the physiotherapists, Ensure you wear well fitted full shoes or slippers where able, Remove all obstacles including rugs and other trip hazards around the home, Take care when carrying bags. Put the other hand on the chair arm, and using the chair and crutches for support, sit down. These crutches are … To do this, keep your arm in the grey cuff of the crutch supporting you on the other side to … Full weight bearing (FWB) or weight bearing as tolerated (WBAT). If any of these issues are noted then this could affect your safety and you should contact the department in which you are currently under the care of for this injury as soon as possible. Advice about Elbow crutches. Consultants. Push down through the crutches & hop up with your healthy leg onto the step, and then bring up your crutches. At the other side place the crutches in a H shape in front of your leg and place your other hand on the crutch handles, Once standing, place one arm in the cuff of one of the crutches and, again, hold both crutch handles while you let go with the other hand and put this arm into the cuff, Now move the crutches into a walking position either side of the legs, Ensure the chair is lined up right behind you, Put both crutches together at one side of your body making the H shape as you did to stand up, Take one arm out and take hold of the crutch handles while you remove the other arm and place this on the crutch handles, Put the free arm on the chair to ensure it is stable for you to sit on and lower yourself down, Stand up on the unaffected leg keeping your affected foot off the floor. Elbow Crutches when Weight Bearing Introduction You have recently been given elbow crutches for your own use. Need some help choosing a language? The section below give a step by step guide to how to use the elbow crutches depending on what weight you are allowed to put through the affected leg. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information. Partial weight bearing (PWB) means that you can put some weight on your affected leg; you will have been advised how much by the clinician that you saw. Put the affected leg forward first striking the heel to the floor, level or just behind the level of the crutches. The cuff is usually made of plastic and can be closed or a half-circle with an opening in the front, allowing the forearm to slip out in case of a fall. Pattie | It will take a little time to get used to the crutches and so it is important you try not to rush. NHS expects that you return the crutches when you are not needed but if you need this for a lifetime you can use this. Note: Your walking pattern should be as normal as possible using one crutch. Crutches should hit about one to two inches below the armpit when you're standing straight and have the handles at wrist height, so that your elbows are slightly bent when you grasp them. Returned items are examined, decontaminated and reused or recycled. This may be the physiotherapy department or fracture clinic if you have not yet been referred to a physiotherapy team. Easily height adjusted to suit individual needs, they are available in a variety of colours and makes. Do not move your feet in front of your crutches as this can make you unsteady 5. © 2020 Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Browsealoud Supported Voices and Languages, Eliminating Mixed Sex Accommodation (EMSA), Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response, Care Quality Commission: Fundamental Standards, Trust Board Statement: Countering fraud and bribery in the NHS. They can feel more stable and secure than a walking stick, but less than a walking frame. Place both your crutches slightly in front of, and out to the side of, your feet 2. Wherever possible we use anonymous data. Place the crutch tips one step in front of you while standing on your uninjured foot. Push down through your arms and crutches, hop or step your unaffected leg up to the crutches 3. Ensure the crutch is firmly on the step so that it cannot slip back off the edge. Keep the injured leg off the floor and in front of … 4 0 obj Keep repeating steps 1 and 2. It is very important you follow this advice to give you the best chance of recovery. Physiotherapists at the Royal Bolton Hospital have declared an amnesty for people to return elbow crutches that are no longer needed. Remove both arms from the crutches, stand on the good leg with the affected leg in front of you. Place the crutches one step ahead, and continue moving forward 4. Now using the support of the handrail and the crutch put your affected leg down towards the same step (if you are non-weight bearing do not put weight through this leg), Lastly, step or hop the unaffected leg down onto the same step as the affected one, If there is no handrail available, use your crutches with one either side of your body. Ensure the chair is lined up right behind you. 4. How to walk with elbow crutches: 1. When we give you the crutches, we will measure them so they are the right size for you. If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged. The crutches should be moved one pace forward and shoulder width apart. Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust – runs a scheme to reuse returned walking aids, such as frames and crutches. If you find that you are leaning heavily on the crutch it may be that you are not ready to progress to one crutch as yet. Put the heel of the affected leg level or just behind the level of the crutches. Hull GP                                              (01482) 300003, East Riding GP                                (01377) 208300. Once your crutches have been set up, you should not need to adjust them. Put the affected leg forward first striking the heel to the floor, level or just behind the level of the crutches. stream Once standing, place both crutches one step in front of you, level with each other. The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. 3 0 obj Elbow crutches are mobility aids designed to take weight off your lower limbs by increasing the weight you put through your upper limbs. The picture illustrates that the crutch handle should be just above the wrist crease, level with the prominent ulna bone. Step down Keep the injured leg off the floor in front of you, and place the crutches on the step below. Introduction This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about how to use elbow crutches. Elbow crutches Page 1 What are elbow crutches? Push down through your arms and crutches, hop or step your unaffected leg up to the crutches 3. Hop forwards with your unaffected leg so that your body is level or just behind the crutches, Use the same technique as for NWB but instead of holding your knee bent, let the toes of your affected leg touch the floor, Stand up on the unaffected leg keeping the weight through the affected heel only. 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