Crutches: Which Type You Need, and Where to Get the Right Pair

Crutches are the most common mobility aid for a foot, ankle, or leg injury, and the first decision is the type, not the brand. For a short recovery, basic underarm crutches are usually fine. For longer or daily use, forearm crutches are better. If you can’t put weight through your hands, platform crutches help, and if you’d rather not balance on crutches at all, a hands-free knee scooter is often the most comfortable option.

The quick version by situation

• A few weeks off one foot: underarm (axillary) crutches. Cheap, stable, easy to learn.
• Months, ongoing, or permanent: forearm (Lofstrand) crutches. They keep the load off your armpits and free your grip.
• Can’t bear weight through your hands or wrists (arthritis, a hand or wrist injury): platform (gutter) crutches.
• One non-weight-bearing leg and you’d rather roll than balance: a knee scooter, often the easiest option of all for a long foot or ankle recovery.

How crutches fit alongside other mobility aids

Crutches are one tool among several. Many people pair a knee scooter for distance with crutches for stairs and tight spaces. As recovery progresses, a cane takes over once you can bear most of your weight, and a rollator or walker is the steadier choice when balance is the main concern. See mobility aids after surgery for the full progression.

Where to find the right crutch

We cover the rolling and standing aids (knee scooters, rollators, wheelchairs, canes) in depth here. For crutches specifically, our sister site Crutch Reviews is the dedicated resource: it scores every type, with a list of the best picks for forearm, underarm, and your situation, plus a quiz that matches you to a type and a pair.

This is general information, not medical advice. Your surgeon or physical therapist decides what’s safe for your injury and how much weight you can bear.