The first trip from the bedroom to the bathroom can feel much longer after surgery. Crutches after hip replacement are not simply a temporary mobility aid - they help protect the healing joint, reduce pain while walking and give you the confidence to move safely at home.
How long you need them, and how much weight you can put through the operated leg, depends on your surgery, your strength and the instructions from your orthopaedic team. Some people progress quickly to one crutch or a walking stick; others need more time and support. The safest approach is to follow your physiotherapist’s individual plan rather than comparing your recovery with somebody else’s.
Why crutches matter after a hip replacement
A new hip needs time for the surrounding muscles and soft tissues to recover. Even when pain is manageable, the leg may feel weak, stiff or unreliable, particularly when standing from a chair, turning or walking after a rest. Crutches widen your base of support and take some of the load away from the operated side.
They can also help you avoid an uneven gait. Limping for long periods may place extra strain on your back, knee, unoperated hip and shoulders. Using the prescribed support properly is usually more beneficial than trying to walk unaided too soon.
Your hospital team may recommend two crutches initially, especially for the first days or weeks at home. This offers the best balance and is often easier on uneven surfaces. As your stability improves, your physiotherapist may advise moving to one crutch, normally held in the hand opposite the operated hip. Do not make this change solely because the crutches feel inconvenient.
Choosing the right crutches after hip replacement
Correct fit makes a major difference to comfort and safety. Crutches that are too high can force the shoulders up and cause neck or hand pain. Crutches that are too low may leave you bent forward and less stable.
For standard underarm crutches, the top padding should sit around two to three finger widths below the armpit when standing upright. You should not rest your body weight through the armpits. Your hands should take the weight through the grips, with a slight bend in the elbows.
For forearm crutches, the hand grips should usually sit around wrist level when your arms are relaxed by your sides. When holding the grips, your elbows should remain gently bent rather than locked. The cuff should support the forearm without pinching or restricting movement.
Many adults prefer adjustable forearm crutches after hip replacement because they are lighter, easier to manage on stairs and less likely to slip away if a hand needs to open a door. Underarm crutches can suit people who need a wider, more supported frame, but they must be adjusted carefully. If you have arthritis in your hands, sore wrists or reduced grip, padded ergonomic handles may be more comfortable.
Before leaving the house, check the rubber ferrules at the bottom of each crutch. They should be secure, deeply treaded and free from splits. Worn ferrules can slide on wet paving, polished floors or bathroom tiles. Replacing them promptly is a small but worthwhile safety measure.
How to walk with two crutches
Your physiotherapist will tell you how much weight the operated leg may take. Some people can weight-bear as tolerated straight after surgery; others are given partial or non-weight-bearing instructions. These directions must guide your walking pattern.
For the common weight-bearing-as-tolerated pattern, move both crutches forward a short distance first. Step forward with the operated leg, placing it level with or just behind the crutches. Then bring the unoperated leg through. Keep movements measured rather than taking long strides.
Look ahead, not down at your feet. It is natural to watch every step at first, but lifting your gaze helps your posture and makes it easier to see hazards in front of you. Keep the crutches close enough that you are not reaching forward or leaning through your shoulders.
Avoid pivoting sharply on the operated leg. Take small steps to turn your whole body instead. Your care team may also give specific hip precautions, depending on the surgical approach used. These can include avoiding certain combinations of deep bending, crossing the legs or twisting. If you are unsure which precautions apply to you, ask before trying everyday tasks such as dressing, reaching low cupboards or getting into a car.
Stairs, kerbs and doorways
Stairs require a slower routine, but they are manageable when practised with a physiotherapist or nurse. Use a handrail whenever one is available and keep both crutches together on the other side if you can do so safely.
Going up, lead with the stronger leg first, then bring the operated leg and crutches up to the same step. Going down, place the crutches down first, then step down with the operated leg, followed by the stronger leg. A simple reminder is: up with the good leg, down with the operated leg.
Never rush to answer a door or carry a hot drink while using crutches. A small backpack, cross-body bag or bag attached securely to a mobility aid leaves your hands available. If carrying essentials is becoming difficult, a rollator with a seat and bag may be appropriate later in recovery, but only if your clinician agrees that it gives you enough support.
Making the home safer for recovery
Most falls happen during ordinary routines, not dramatic moments. Preparing key spaces before returning home can make the early weeks less tiring for everyone involved.
Remove loose rugs, trailing cables and low footstools from walking routes. Keep a clear path between the bed, toilet, kitchen and favourite chair. Good lighting matters, particularly for night-time trips to the bathroom. A bedside lamp, motion-sensor light or easily reached switch can prevent a risky walk in the dark.
A firm, higher chair is generally easier to stand from than a low, soft sofa. If your knees sit higher than your hips when seated, speak to your occupational therapist about a chair raiser or alternative seating. In the bathroom, a raised toilet seat, toilet frame, shower chair and grab rails can reduce the need to bend, balance on one leg or lower yourself too far.
For people living alone, it helps to keep a mobile phone, water, medication and any prescribed walking aids within easy reach. Family members and carers can support recovery by giving space for the person to practise safely, rather than pulling them up by an arm or encouraging them to move faster than they are ready for.
When to move from two crutches to one
The decision is based on walking quality, not just the number of days since surgery. You may be ready to discuss one crutch when you can walk upright with two crutches, place weight through the operated leg as advised and avoid limping or swaying.
If you begin to limp more, feel less steady or experience increased pain after reducing support, return to the aid level your clinician recommended and seek advice. Moving backwards for a few days is not failure. It is often the sensible way to protect a hip that is still healing.
A walking stick may become suitable after one crutch, but it should be the right height and used in the opposite hand to the operated hip. Some people, particularly those with balance problems, muscle weakness or another painful joint, benefit from using a walking aid for longer.
Signs you should seek medical advice
Expected recovery includes some soreness, swelling and fatigue, especially after physiotherapy or a more active day. However, contact your surgical team, GP, NHS 111 or urgent services as appropriate if pain suddenly becomes severe, the leg looks unusually shortened or rotated, or you cannot put weight through it after previously being able to do so.
Urgent advice is also needed for increasing redness, heat, drainage or opening around the wound, a high temperature, calf pain or marked swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath. These symptoms need prompt assessment and should not be managed by changing your crutches or simply resting at home.
Crutches are there to make each necessary movement safer while your confidence returns. Set them to the right height, use them for as long as you have been advised, and let steady progress - not pressure to be finished quickly - guide the next step.
