How to Adjust Crutches: Step-by-Step Height Setup Guide

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The most common reason crutches are uncomfortable is wrong height, and it is fixable in about two minutes. This guide covers both adjustments every crutch has, the overall height and the handgrip, and walks through the steps for underarm and forearm crutches.

The two adjustments every crutch has: overall height and handgrip

Every pair of crutches has at least two adjusters: one that sets the overall length of the crutch and one that sets the handgrip position. Both matter, and both are separate. Adjusting only the overall length without touching the handgrip is the most common setup mistake.

On underarm crutches, the overall length controls how high the underarm pad sits. The handgrip adjusts independently. On forearm crutches, the overall shaft length controls where the cuff lands on your forearm. The handgrip adjusts independently from that.

How to adjust underarm crutch height: push-button and wing-nut methods

Wear the shoes you will use day to day. Stand upright with the crutch tip on the floor about 2-3 inches to the side of your foot.

Adjust the lower shaft until the top pad is 1-2 inches below your armpit (about two finger-widths of clearance). The gap is intentional: it keeps the pad off the nerves and blood vessels in your armpit.

To lock the height:

• Push-button: depress the spring button, slide the shaft until the button pops through the correct hole, and confirm it has clicked fully through both sides of the outer tube. The Drive Medical aluminum crutches use this style, common on most standard pharmacy pairs (view the Drive Medical pair).
• Wing-nut: thread the wing nut onto the bolt and tighten firmly by hand. Check it again after your first day of use, as wing nuts can loosen slightly with vibration.

Set both crutches to the same hole before moving to the handgrip. For more detail on sizing the full underarm crutch system, see how to fit underarm crutches.

How to set the handgrip height on underarm crutches

Let your arm hang naturally at your side. Set the handgrip level with your wrist crease. When you then grip the handle and stand upright, your elbow should bend about 15-30 degrees. That slight bend gives your arm the leverage to push down and move forward. A straight elbow means the grip is too high; a deeply bent elbow means it is too low.

Lock the handgrip using the same push-button or wing-nut method, and tug firmly downward before putting weight on it.

How to adjust forearm crutch height: shaft and cuff position

For forearm crutches, start the same way: shoes on, standing upright, crutch tip 2-3 inches to the side of your foot.

Adjust the main shaft until the cuff sits 1-1.5 inches below your elbow (roughly the width of two to three fingers). The cuff should stay on your arm when you let go of the grip but not pinch or cut off circulation.

Then adjust the handgrip to your wrist crease. Your elbow should bend 15-30 degrees when you grip and stand tall. The In-Motion Pro forearm crutches have independent shaft and grip adjusters that make this two-step process straightforward for most arm lengths.

Lock both adjusters and tug each one firmly before walking. For the full forearm sizing method, see how to size forearm crutches.

How your crutches should fit after adjustment: the quick check

Run through this after you lock everything:

• Underarm pad clears your armpit by two finger-widths.
• Elbow bends 15-30 degrees when you hold the grip and stand tall.
• Crutch tips land about 2-3 inches to the side and slightly ahead when you walk normally.
• Both adjusters hold firm under a hard downward tug.

If you pass all four, the fit is correct. Carry your weight through your hands, not the pads, and you are ready to move. See how to use crutches for walking technique once the fit is set.

Common mistakes when adjusting crutches

• Fitting in bare feet or different shoes. Heel height changes the numbers. Always fit in the shoes you will actually wear.
• Locking the overall height but skipping the handgrip. The two adjusters are independent. Do both.
• Clicking the push-button only halfway. The button must pop through both walls of the outer tube. A partial click looks secure but gives way under load.
• Setting both crutches at different heights. Check that both are on the same hole number or the same wing-nut position before walking.
• Fitting while seated. Height measurements are only accurate standing upright. Adjusting while sitting will put the fit off.

When to readjust your crutches

Readjust any time the fit changes:

• Shoe change. Switching from athletic shoes to flat sandals or dress shoes can shift the correct height by close to an inch.
• Different user. If someone else borrows the crutches, reset both adjusters for their height before they walk.
• Soreness after correct use. If your hands, shoulders, or underarms become sore after correct fit, the first thing to recheck is whether the adjusters have shifted. Wing nuts loosen over time; push-buttons can wear and not fully seat.

If the fit still does not feel right

If you have adjusted both the height and the handgrip correctly and the crutches still feel wrong, the issue may be the crutch design itself. Basic aluminum pairs have limited padding and fixed grip angles, which can be uncomfortable for longer recoveries.

Take the quiz to get a matched recommendation based on your situation, or see best crutches for the top-scored picks across every type. A physical therapist can also verify your fit and watch your gait in person, which is worth doing if you will be on crutches for more than a few days.

This is general information, not medical advice. Your physical therapist or surgeon’s fitting instructions take precedence. A PT can verify your fit and check your gait in person, which is worth doing if you will be on crutches for more than a few days.