Choosing
The four kinds of crutch, and who each one suits
Underarm, forearm, platform, and the knee scooter alternative, compared on comfort, learning curve, stairs, cost, and how long you will be using them.
Contents 6 sections
Most people never choose a crutch. A hospital hands them a pair, and that pair is nearly always the aluminum underarm design. It is a fine default for a short injury and a poor one for a long recovery, which is worth knowing before you spend another three months on it.
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Underarm crutches (axillary)
Two uprights, a padded top that sits below the armpit, and a handgrip. Roughly $25 to $45 a pair, sold everywhere, adjustable in a couple of common height ranges.
They are quick to learn, which is exactly why emergency departments use them. The weakness is endurance. The design encourages people to rest on the top pad, and sustained pressure in the armpit is uncomfortable at best. Medicare codes them E0112 (wood) and E0114 (other than wood).
Forearm crutches (Lofstrand or elbow crutches)
A cuff around the forearm plus a handgrip. Standard across most of Europe, uncommon in US retail, and the design people switch to when weeks become months. Load runs through the hand and forearm, the cuff keeps the crutch attached when you let go to open a door, and they handle stairs far better. Expect $50 to $120 for a basic pair and $150 to $400 for ergonomic or carbon-fibre models. Medicare code E0110 for a pair.
The trade-off is a steeper learning curve and less lateral stability at first. Most people adapt within a week.
Platform crutches
The handgrip is replaced by a horizontal trough that the forearm rests on, with a strap. These exist for people who cannot put weight through a wrist or hand, such as after a wrist fracture or with arthritis. They are a clinical fitting, not a shelf purchase, and an orthotics and prosthetics practice is the right place to get them.
Knee scooters and hands-free alternatives
A knee scooter carries the shin of the injured leg on a padded platform over four wheels. For a foot or ankle injury it is dramatically less tiring than crutches, and it leaves your hands free. It also cannot do stairs, struggles on gravel and thick carpet, and is useless for an above-knee problem. Purchase runs about $120 to $250; rental is common at $40 to $80 a week.
Hands-free crutches that strap to the thigh and stand in for the lower leg are a third category. They suit some below-knee injuries very well and take real practice.
Choosing in one question
How long will you be on them? Under about six weeks, underarm crutches from whatever store is closest are a sensible, cheap answer. Past that, or if your hands, wrists, or shoulders are already complaining, the money you spend switching to forearm crutches buys back a lot of daily comfort. Talk to your clinician or a fitter before switching, particularly if you have a weight-bearing restriction.
Suppliers that carry more than the drugstore default are listed by state in this directory, under medical supply dealers and orthotics practices.
Common questions
- Are forearm crutches better than underarm crutches?
- For long-term use, generally yes: they load the forearm rather than pressing into the armpit, they are easier on stairs, and they free your hands without dropping them. For a six-week injury, underarm crutches are easier to learn and much cheaper, which is why they dominate US retail.
- Why do my armpits hurt on crutches?
- Because weight is going through the underarm pad, which is not what it is for. The pad is a guide; your hands should carry the load through the handgrips. Persistent armpit pressure can irritate the nerves that run through the armpit, so if adjusting the height does not fix it, get the fit checked.
- What is a knee scooter and is it better?
- A wheeled frame with a padded platform for the shin of the injured leg. For below-the-knee injuries it is far less tiring than crutches and keeps your hands free, but it needs flat ground and does not do stairs. Many people use both.
- What are spring-loaded or articulating crutches?
- Underarm crutches with a shock-absorbing or pivoting joint, coded separately by Medicare as E0117. They reduce impact and can improve gait, and they cost several times what a standard pair does.
How we researched this guide
Written and maintained by the CrutchDirectory editorial team at NLH Enterprises LLC. Coverage rules, billing codes and equipment definitions are taken from primary government sources, linked below. Prices are typical US retail ranges observed at national retailers and change often, so treat them as a bracket rather than a quote.
- FDA: 21 CFR 890.3150, crutch device classification The regulatory definition of a crutch and its device class
- CMS: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System The code definitions separating underarm, forearm and platform crutches
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine): Using crutches Standard gait patterns and what each design is used for
Not medical advice. These guides cover products, prices and coverage mechanics. They are not written or reviewed by a clinician and do not diagnose or treat anything. Which mobility aid suits your injury, and what weight you may put through it, are questions for the clinician treating you.