How to Size and Adjust Forearm Crutches Correctly

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A forearm crutch that’s set up wrong is uncomfortable at best and unsafe at worst. The good news: fitting them takes two minutes and two measurements, the handle height and the cuff position. Here’s how to get it right.

1. Set the handle height

This is the measurement that matters most.

1. Stand upright in the shoes you normally wear, arms relaxed at your sides.
2. Have someone measure from the floor to the crease of your wrist (where your hand meets your forearm).
3. Set the handle of the crutch to that height.

When it’s right, your elbow should be bent about 15–30° when you’re gripping the handle and standing tall. Too low and you’ll hunch and strain your shoulders; too high and you’ll shrug and lose control.

2. Set the cuff position

The forearm cuff should sit about 1–1.5 inches below your elbow (roughly the width of two to three fingers). It should be snug enough to stay on your arm when you let go of the grip, but not tight enough to pinch.

3. Check your walking position

• Place the crutch tips about 3–4 inches to the side and slightly ahead of your feet.
• Keep your weight on your hands and forearms, not slumped into the cuffs.
• Stand tall, look ahead, not down.

Fit problems? It might be the crutch, not the setup

If you’ve sized them correctly and still get hand, wrist, or shoulder pain, the crutch design may be the issue, basic models with hard grips and no shock absorption are tough on the body over time. See crutches that don’t hurt your hands and our best forearm crutches picks, or take the quiz to find a better-fitting pair.

When buying, check that the crutch’s height range and weight capacity match you, each pick on our site lists both.

This is general information, not medical advice. A physical therapist can fit your crutches and check your gait in person, which is worth doing if you’ll be on them a while.