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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.

I Would Like to Learn About:

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.

Review Date: 12/12/2022  

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.

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