Using crutches after hip surgery means leaning on the handgrips, moving crutches and your operated leg together, then stepping through with your strong leg.
The first time you stand up after hip surgery, the crutches feel wrong. Your instinct is to rest your armpits on the pads and swing your body through — but that instinct damages nerves and slows healing. How to use crutches after hip surgery the right way comes down to three movements, repeated every step: crutches and operated leg forward together, weight through the handgrips, strong leg stepping through. This article walks you through the correct setup, the walking pattern, stairs, the transition to one crutch, and what to avoid so you recover without setbacks.
Getting Your Crutches Adjusted Properly
A crutch that fits wrong sets you up for failure before you take a step. Two adjustments matter most, and both take about ten seconds to get right.
First, the top of the crutch should sit about two to three finger widths below your armpit — roughly one to two inches of clearance. If the pad presses into your armpit when you stand straight, it’s too tall, and that pressure can damage nerves and blood vessels. Second, the handgrip should align with the crease of your wrist when your arm hangs naturally at your side. A grip set too high or low forces you to hunch or overextend, and neither position lets you transfer weight safely.
Check the rubber tips at the bottom. Worn or missing tips make the crutch slide on smooth floors. Tighten any loose nuts or bolts before every use. If you haven’t picked your crutches yet, see our picks for the best crutches for hip surgery to find models that adjust easily and hold up during recovery.
Using Crutches After Hip Surgery: The Step Order That Works
The walking pattern that protects your hip and keeps you stable is a three-beat cycle: crutches and operated leg move forward together, you push down on the handgrips, and your strong leg steps past them.
Stand up straight with the crutches placed slightly in front of you and a little apart — about shoulder width gives you a stable base. Move both crutches and your operated leg forward at the same time, keeping the leg lined up with the crutches. Push down firmly on the handgrips to take your body weight; your hands carry the load, not your armpits. Then step through with your non-operated (strong) leg, landing between or slightly ahead of the crutches. Pause and find your balance before starting the next step.
When you need to turn, use small steps — never twist your body or pivot on one foot. Twisting puts torque through the healing joint. If your surgeon has told you to keep the operated leg non-weight-bearing, keep that foot off the ground entirely and hop the strong leg through each cycle. Cleveland Clinic’s official instructions for using crutches reinforce the same pattern: weight on the hands, never the underarms.
Common Crutch Mistakes and How to Fix Them
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Leaning on the armpit pads | Compresses nerves and blood vessels, causing numbness and permanent damage | Adjust height so the pad clears your armpit; push through your hands |
| Moving the strong leg first | Breaks the rhythm and makes you unstable | Always move crutches and operated leg together first |
| Twisting the body to turn | Torques the healing hip joint and risks dislocation | Take several small steps to change direction |
| Bending the hip past 90 degrees | Exceeds the safe range for a new hip; can dislocate the joint | Sit in firm, high chairs; avoid low sofas and deep recliners |
| Lifting heavy objects | Excess strain on the hip; limit is 25 pounds (11 kg) | Ask for help or carry nothing heavier than a grocery bag |
| Walking on wet or icy floors | Rubber tips lose grip; falls can re-injure the hip | Use metal tips for slick surfaces; keep floors dry |
| Overstriding or hurrying | Loss of balance increases fall risk | Take short, controlled steps; pause between each cycle |
How to Use Crutches on Stairs Safely
Stairs are the trickiest part of crutch walking, and the rule reverses depending on whether you’re going up or down. The constant is that you always have one hand on the rail.
Going up: Hold the handrail with one hand and hold both crutches in the other hand (stack them together). Step up with your non-operated leg first, then bring your operated leg and the crutches up to the same step. Never lead with the operated leg on an ascent.
Going down: Hold the rail and the crutches the same way. Step down with your operated leg and the crutches first, keeping your weight on the strong leg that stays on the higher step. Bring the strong leg down to meet them. Going down, the operated leg and crutches lead because you want the strong leg to control the descent.
If the staircase has no rail, move both crutches down to the next step, bear weight through your hands, and then bring your non-operated leg through. For staircases at home, try to arrange your recovery area on one floor to avoid stairs entirely during the first week.
When Do You Transition to One Crutch?
Most patients use two crutches for two to four weeks, with the shift to one crutch happening around week three if the physical therapist approves. The goal is not speed — it’s safe, stable walking without a limp.
When you move to one crutch, hold it on the opposite side of your recovering hip. Step forward with your recovering leg and the crutch together, support your weight through the handgrip, and bring your strong leg forward to align with the recovering leg. Keep the second crutch in the car for community outings where fatigue or pain might hit suddenly. Only your PT or surgeon can clear you to drop the crutches entirely.
Recovery Timeline With Crutches
| Recovery Phase | Crutch Use | Weight Bearing |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Two crutches at all times | Toe-touch or 20 lbs partial weight (light as a fall leaf underfoot) |
| Week 2 | Two crutches indoors and outdoors | Gradually increase to 50% body weight as tolerated |
| Weeks 3–4 | One crutch indoors, two for community outings | Full weight as pain allows, with PT approval |
| Weeks 4–6 | One crutch for community; no crutch in the house | Full weight, working on gait symmetry |
| Week 6+ | Crutches discontinued; keep one in the car | Full activity with restrictions on sports and twisting |
What Activities Should You Avoid While Recovering?
The hip replacement itself is durable, but the soft tissues around it — muscles, tendons, and the joint capsule — need time to heal. Pushing too hard too early is the fastest route to a setback.
Do not bend your hip past a right angle (90 degrees), which means no low chairs, no deep couches, no bending to tie shoes. Do not cross your legs. Do not lift or push anything heavier than 25 pounds. Avoid contact sports, jumping, quick stops, and twisting motions for at least three months. If you had an anterior approach, do not force hip extension backward; if posterior, avoid aggressive hamstring or glute stretches. Wait six weeks before driving and get your doctor’s OK first. None of these restrictions are forever — they protect the window when the joint is most vulnerable.
Crutch Walking Checklist
- Crutch tops sit two to three finger widths below your armpit
- Handgrips line up with your wrist crease
- Rubber tips are intact; use metal tips on ice
- Move crutches and operated leg forward together
- Push weight through your hands, not your armpits
- Step through with your strong leg, pause, repeat
- Use small steps to turn — no twisting
- On stairs: good leg leads going up, operated leg leads going down
- Transition to one crutch only after PT approval
- Keep a crutch in the car for emergency use
- Avoid hip bending past 90 degrees, crossing legs, lifting over 25 lbs
FAQs
How long do most people need crutches after hip surgery?
Most patients use crutches for two to four weeks, though some need them up to six weeks depending on the surgical approach, pain level, and how quickly strength returns. The decision to stop must come from your physical therapist or surgeon, not from feeling ready.
Can you put weight on your operated leg while using crutches?
It depends on your surgeon’s weight-bearing status. Some patients are allowed partial weight (about 20 pounds, or roughly the pressure of not cracking a dry leaf underfoot), while others must keep the foot completely off the ground. Follow the specific limit your doctor gave you.
What’s the hardest thing about walking with crutches after hip surgery?
Stairs are the biggest challenge because the pattern reverses depending on direction. Going up, the strong leg leads; going down, the operated leg and crutches lead. Many patients also struggle with the instinct to rest armpit weight on the pads, which causes nerve damage over time.
How do you know when your crutches are the right height?
Stand up straight and let your arms hang. The top of the crutch should be about two finger widths below your armpit, and the handgrip should align with the crease of your wrist. If you feel pressure in your armpits when you stand normally, the crutches are too tall.
Can you climb stairs the day after hip surgery?
Most patients can manage stairs with crutches and a handrail within 24 to 48 hours of surgery, but it requires careful technique and a spotter at first. Staff at the hospital will teach you the correct pattern before discharge. If stairs are unavoidable at home, plan to go up and down only a few times a day during the first week.
References & Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. “How To Use Crutches.” Outlines the correct walking pattern, fitting adjustments, and safety precautions for underarm crutches.