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.
- 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 the 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 the good leg.
- Put crutches under the arms to start walking.
References
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. How to use crutches, canes, and walkers. orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/recovery/how-to-use-crutches-canes-and-walkers. Updated December 2020. Accessed January 18, 2023.
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.
Osorio M, Tsao E, Apkon SD. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 733.