Elbow Crutches: Keep Walking While a Leg Heals, From 2,550 Shillings
These elbow crutches take the weight off an injured leg and carry it through your forearms and hands, so you can keep walking while a fracture, a sprain or an operation heals. A moulded cuff grips the forearm just below the elbow, which means the crutch stays on your arm when you let go of the handle to open a door or take your change.
They are made of adjustable aluminium tube with a non-slip rubber tip at the base, and both the handle height and the overall length are set to your own measurements. Elbow crutches suit anybody who will be on crutches for weeks rather than days, anybody who needs a hand free, and anybody who finds that underarm crutches rub or ache after an afternoon. They are sold as a pair, and our pharmacist sets both before you leave the counter.
Elbow or Underarm: Which Crutches to Buy
Both carry your weight on your hands. The difference is what holds the crutch to you, and it decides which one you will still be using in a month.
Elbow crutches hold on by the forearm cuff. That frees your hand without the crutch falling over, puts the load along the forearm rather than up under the arm, and keeps your posture more upright. They take a few days to get used to, and they ask more of your arms and shoulders at first.
Underarm crutches hold on by being tucked against the chest wall. They are easier on the first day, steadier for somebody who is weak or unsteady, and the usual choice for a short spell on one leg after a sprain or a simple fracture.
The rule of thumb our pharmacists use: a few days to a fortnight on one leg, underarm; several weeks or longer, elbow. Tell us which leg, what our doctor or your surgeon said about putting weight on it, and how long you expect to be on them, and we will set you up with the right pair.
Fitting Your Elbow Crutches
Stand up straight in the shoes you normally wear, shoulders relaxed, arms hanging by your sides.
The handle goes level with the crease of your wrist. With your hand on the handle your elbow should sit at a gentle 15 to 30 degree bend. Hunched shoulders and a sharply bent elbow mean the crutch is too long; a drooping shoulder and a straight locked elbow mean it is too short.
The cuff sits on the thickest part of the forearm, below the elbow. As a guide that is about 5 cm below the elbow for somebody around 1.5 m tall, 7.5 cm at about 1.7 m, and 10 cm at about 1.8 m. Higher up the arm gives you more leverage; too high and the cuff bites into the upper arm when you lean forward.
Set one crutch, match the second to it exactly, and push every adjustment pin right through its hole until it clicks. Then stand with the tips about 5 cm out from each shoe and 15 cm in front of your toes, which is where they belong when you are standing still.
Walking, Stairs and Chairs
Walking with the leg off the ground. Stand on the good leg. Put both crutch tips about one stride ahead of you. Take your weight on the handles and swing the good leg through, landing it roughly level with the tips rather than far beyond them. Repeat. Look ahead at where you are going, not down at your feet.
Stairs. Up with the good leg first, then bring the crutches and the injured leg up to the same step. Down, send the crutches and the injured leg to the lower step first, then step down with the good leg. Put both crutches in the hand away from the handrail and hold the rail with the other. Where there is no rail and you are at all unsteady, sit on the step and lift yourself up or down one at a time; there is no prize for doing it standing.
Chairs. Back up until you feel the seat behind your legs, move both crutches to one hand, reach back for the arm of the chair with the other, and lower yourself down. Reverse it to stand, pushing up from the chair rather than hauling on the crutches.
Looking After Them
Check the rubber tips. A worn or split tip is the single commonest cause of a crutch slipping, and a new pair is a few hundred shillings. Run a thumb over the tread: if it has gone smooth or the rubber has split at the rim, replace them. Tips wear faster on rough ground and in the rain.
Check the adjustment holes are still round rather than stretched into ovals, check the pins click fully home, and check the cuff and handle for cracks. Keep the tips dry when you come in from the rain and wipe them before you cross a polished floor, which is where most falls happen.
Leaning them against a wall, turn the cuffs to face the wall so they are less likely to slide down. If walking is going to be difficult for a long time rather than a few weeks, ask our pharmacist about a walking frame or a manual wheelchair for the longer distances.
Is a Pair of Elbow Crutches Right for You?
Elbow crutches suit most people with the arm strength to use them. Please speak to our pharmacist or our doctor before ordering if any of these apply:
- You have been told how much weight to put through the leg. Tell us whether it is none, partial or as able, because that changes the crutch, the gait and the number you need.
- Your hands, wrists, elbows or shoulders are painful or weak, from arthritis or anything else. The load goes through all of them, and a frame may suit you better.
- You feel unsteady, dizzy or faint on standing. Please see our doctor first, because balance is what crutches ask of you rather than what they give you.
- This is for a child, or for somebody frail and elderly. Ring us and we will size them with you rather than guessing from a height.
- You are getting numbness or pins and needles in the hand or arm. Stop using them and see our doctor, because that is the fit talking and it is worth correcting early.
Our pharmacists will measure you, set both crutches and walk you up and down the shop before you leave, and our doctor is here if the leg itself needs looking at.
Where to Buy Elbow Crutches in Kenya
Order online and we deliver countrywide, or collect from our pharmacy at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. We send orders to Nairobi and every neighbourhood around it — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Runda, Rosslyn, Kitisuru, Lower Kabete, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Buruburu, Donholm, Embakasi, Ngong Road, Kasarani, Roysambu, Zimmerman, Githurai, Ruaka, Banana Hill, Two Rivers, Village Market and Pride Lands — and across Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru and Ngong.
Beyond the capital we deliver to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Athi River, Kitengela, Kajiado, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Webuye, Kitale, Nandi Hills, Iten, Kapenguria, Embu, Meru, Chuka, Kerugoya, Murang’a, Othaya, Nyahururu, Nanyuki, Maralal, Isiolo, Marsabit, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Emali, Kibwezi, Voi, Taveta, Wundanyi, Mariakani, Diani, Ukunda, Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi, Lamu and Hola. Tell us your height and which leg is injured and we will set both crutches before the parcel leaves us.
Across Africa, ask us before you order. We have sent orders to Uganda, Tanzania, Somaliland and as far as Malawi, and we will quote for Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the rest of the continent. Tell us the destination and we will confirm any import paperwork before the parcel leaves us.
Living abroad? Order from wherever you are and we deliver here in Kenya. Kenyans in the UK, the United States, Canada, South Africa and the Gulf order from us regularly for a parent or relative at home, and this is one of the things they order most. Tell us the address and we will deliver and set it up.
Why Buy Your Elbow Crutches from HealthAlone Kenya?
HealthAlone is a pharmacist-led health ecosystem licensed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and our stock is original, sealed and correctly stored. Kahawa Sukari is a real counter with real pharmacists behind it.
On a walking aid the fitting is the product. A crutch set to the wrong length puts the work in the wrong place, and the person gives up on it inside a week, so our pharmacists measure you, set both crutches and watch you walk before you go.
It is one more step in our vision: building Africa’s most trusted health ecosystem, accessible to everyone, everywhere.
FAQs
How do I set elbow crutches to the right height?
Stand up straight in your normal shoes with your arms hanging by your sides. The handle should come level with the crease of your wrist, which puts your elbow at a 15 to 30 degree bend when you hold it. The cuff sits on the thick part of the forearm below the elbow, roughly 5 to 10 cm down depending on your height. Set one crutch, match the other to it, and make sure every pin clicks fully home. Our pharmacist will do this with you.
Are elbow crutches better than underarm crutches?
They are better for longer use. The forearm cuff keeps the crutch on your arm when you let go of the handle, puts the load along the forearm, and keeps you more upright. Underarm crutches are easier on the first day and steadier if you are weak or unsteady. A few days to a fortnight on one leg, take underarm; several weeks or longer, take elbow.
How do I go up and down stairs on elbow crutches?
Up with the good leg first, then bring the crutches and the injured leg to the same step. Down, send the crutches and the injured leg to the lower step first, then step down with the good leg. Hold the handrail with one hand and carry both crutches in the other. If there is no rail and you feel unsteady, sit on the step and move yourself up or down one at a time.
How much weight can they take?
Please ask our pharmacist for the figure on the pair in stock, and tell us roughly what you weigh when you order so we send you a pair rated for it.
Can I use one crutch instead of two?
Once our doctor or your surgeon says you may put weight through the leg, yes, and the single crutch goes in the hand opposite the injured leg, moving forward at the same time as that leg. Until then use both, because one crutch cannot keep a foot off the ground.
How do I know when the rubber tips need changing?
Run a thumb over the base. A tip that has gone smooth, or split at the rim, is the commonest reason a crutch slips, and it wears faster on rough ground and in wet weather. Replacement tips are inexpensive and we keep them, so bring a crutch in and we will match them.
Do elbow crutches come in pairs?
Yes, the price shown is for a pair, set to the same length and handle height as each other.
Will I be able to carry anything while using them?
That is the main reason people choose elbow crutches. The cuff holds the crutch to your forearm when you release the handle, so you can open a door, take your change or hold a handrail and then take the handle again without the crutch clattering to the floor. Carrying a cup across a room still takes practice, and a small rucksack is easier than a bag in your hand.
My shoulder and wrist ache after a few days. Is that normal?
Some aching is normal while the arms get used to the work, and it settles over the first week. Aching that is getting worse, or numbness and pins and needles in the hand, usually means the length is wrong, so bring the crutches in and we will reset them. Our doctor is here if the pain is in a joint rather than the muscles.
Can elbow crutches be used outdoors on rough ground?
Yes, with good tips on them and more care than indoors. Take shorter steps, place the tips deliberately rather than swinging them, and keep clear of loose murram, wet grass and smooth stone. Tips wear faster outdoors, so check them more often. A polished indoor floor with wet tips is riskier than most outdoor ground.
Where can I buy elbow crutches in Kenya?
Order from HealthAlone online and we deliver countrywide, or collect from our pharmacy at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. We deliver across Nairobi — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Buruburu, Donholm, Embakasi, Kasarani, Roysambu, Zimmerman, Githurai and Ruaka — and across Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru and Ngong, as well as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Kitengela, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Kisii, Bungoma, Kakamega, Kitale, Embu, Meru, Chuka, Murang’a, Nyahururu, Nanyuki, Isiolo, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Voi, Kilifi, Malindi and Diani. Tell us your height and which leg is injured and we will set them before they leave us.
