You leave the clinic with a pair of underarm crutches because that is what every pharmacy stocks. A few days later someone glides past on sleek forearm crutches and suddenly the default option looks a little clunky. Short term injuries still demand a lot of real life walking, and when the crutches do not fit or feel steady, even the bathroom run starts to feel like a maze.
This guide compares underarm vs forearm crutches using the notes I jotted after soaking wet errands, shaky stair attempts, and the occasional facepalm moment. Treat it as a field report you can pair with your provider's guidance so you know how to frame your questions before renting, buying, or swapping gear. This article shares personal testing and general education; always follow your medical team's instructions for your specific injury.
Key takeaways
- Underarm crutches are everywhere, easy to learn, and often available to rent the same day, which is why most of us leave urgent care with them by default.
- Forearm crutches take longer to master but usually deliver calmer stair control, better balance, and a smaller footprint once the first awkward days pass.
- Fit is everything. Sloppy measurements turn either style into a wobble machine, so let your provider size and watch you walk, even if it feels like overkill.
- Switching is allowed. If the first type hurts or feels sketchy, your physical therapist can help you swap after a quick gait check.
- Daily routine matters. Stairs, tiny bathrooms, car trunks, and whether you carry groceries every night all change which setup stays bearable for six weeks.
Table of contents
Crutch types at a glance
Most short term recoveries eventually boil down to a choice between underarm (axillary) crutches or forearm (Lofstrand) crutches. Platform crutches and knee scooters exist, but unless your provider flags them, the pharmacy will hand you one of these two styles. Here is how the main players behave in real life.
Underarm (axillary) crutches
The tall wooden or aluminum crutches you picture instinctively. Pads tuck just below your armpits, hand grips sit at wrist height, and the length adjusts with push-button pins. You can usually grab them same-day, no questions asked.
- Pros: Fast to rent or buy, intuitive for first-time users, wide base feels stable on day one.
- Cons: Pads can dig into ribs if you lean, the wide shape hits door frames, and hands stay busy 100 percent of the time.
Forearm (Lofstrand) crutches
Shorter crutches with a cuff that wraps around your forearm and a handle below. You steer them with hands and forearms, so they stay attached even when you wedge open a heavy door or wave at a taxi.
- Pros: Compact, quiet, and precise; easier in tight bathrooms or when navigating stairs with a handrail.
- Cons: Learning curve is steeper, wrists and forearms work harder, and rentals are harder to find in the US.
Other mobility options
Platform crutches support the forearm when wrists cannot bear weight, while knee scooters let you rest a lower leg on a padded shelf. If hopping everywhere feels miserable, skim the knee scooter guide before buying anything permanent, and reference the mobility alternatives roundup when you want the full menu.
Quick visual aid
Use the illustration inside What Can I Use Instead of Crutches? to compare silhouettes. That visual helps spot when a scooter or walker might actually be the safer choice.
How I tested both styles
I rotated between underarm and forearm crutches for several weeks, jotting notes about every squeak and stumble. My physical therapist gave me the thumbs-up before longer outings, mostly because I tend to test limits too quickly.
- Surfaces: Kitchen tile, hardwood stairs, grocery-store ramps slick with spilled coffee, rainy sidewalks, and the echo-y stairwell in my apartment building.
- Distances: Kitchen-to-couch hops, clinic visits, post-office lines, and those “oops, forgot milk” errands that somehow take three hours.
- Weight checks: Underarm crutches weighed 1.5 lbs each; forearm crutches weighed 1.1 lbs. That 0.4-lb difference per side felt tiny until hour two, when my shoulders started filing complaints.
- Cuff and pad comfort: Closed cuffs felt reassuring but cooked a hot spot in 30 minutes; open cuffs breathed better yet wobbled. Underarm pads behaved only when I kept weight in my hands; the minute I leaned, they pinched through my T-shirt.
- Handles: Smooth grips turned slick during a humid bus ride. Swapping to textured or ergonomic grips matched the tips in our hand and wrist comfort guide and kept my wrists calmer.
- Tip traction: Stock tips were fine on dry floors, then turned into ice skates on wet tile. Shock-absorbing tips with deeper tread may not look glamorous, but they made rainy grocery runs less terrifying.
- Stairs: Underarm pads braced against my ribs heading up, yet felt bulky on the descent. Forearm crutches felt surgical after a few supervised lap around the stairwell.
- Storage: Underarm crutches stretched to nearly 58 inches when set for my height; forearm crutches sat around 38 inches and finally fit in my hatchback without diagonal Tetris.
Fit and sizing basics
Fit determines whether either style feels safe. Guessing with a tape measure at home sounds efficient but usually ends in hunched shoulders or sore wrists. Let your physical therapist or DME specialist fiddle with height, watch your gait, and tweak the angles while you practice.
Underarm fit cues
- Crutch pads should sit roughly 2 finger widths below your armpits in the shoes you plan to wear.
- Hand grips should align with your wrist crease so your elbows bend about 15–30 degrees.
- Standing on both crutches should feel upright, not hunched or tip-toed.
Forearm fit cues
- Cuffs should sit 1–2 inches below your elbows and feel snug without pinching.
- Handles should line up with your wrist crease for that same 15–30 degree elbow bend.
- Tips should land a few inches forward and to the side of your toes when standing naturally.
Red flags include shoulders creeping toward ears, cuffs rubbing, wrists aching within minutes, or tips landing too close or far. If any of those show up, schedule a refit and revisit the fundamentals in the getting started on crutches guide.
Underarm crutches for short term use
Where they shine
Need crutches today? Underarm models live in nearly every ER, pharmacy, and campus health center. Most folks can learn the basic swing-through gait within an hour, so they feel like the fastest path to getting home without wobbling.
Comfort and daily-life caveats
- Pads dig into ribs if you lean on them. Keep weight in your hands to avoid nerve irritation.
- Tall frames are awkward in tight bathrooms or dorm hallways and love to smack door frames.
- Hands stay busy, so backpacks or crossbody bags are essential for carrying anything. The carrying guide has workable setups.
Week one reality: My armpits throbbed after day one because I subconsciously leaned on the pads. Once my PT drilled the proper grip technique, the soreness faded, but the bulk never did. The rubber tips squeaked through my office hallway and made me painfully aware of every stride.
Forearm crutches for short term use
Where they shine
Forearm crutches feel nimble once you grit through the first few days. They hug closer to your body, so tight kitchens, subway doors, and bathroom turns feel less like a geometry test. The cuffs keep the crutch attached even when you grab a grocery bag or fight a spring-loaded door.
Comfort and daily-life caveats
- Hands and wrists do more work. If grip strength is limited, start slowly and consider padded grips or gloves.
- Cuffs can rub or catch on jackets. Lightweight layers or rolled sleeves help, and our fashion guide has outfit tricks.
- Rentals are rare in the US, so you may need to buy a pair if you want to test them.
Week one reality: Day one felt clumsy and I questioned why I bothered. By day three I could loop around my kitchen island without muttering. By day five I trusted them on stairs more than underarm crutches because I could keep one hand on the rail without losing the crutch.
Direct comparison
| Aspect | Underarm crutches | Forearm crutches | Quick note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning curve | Feels stable within an hour or two | Needs a few days of practice | Underarm wins when you need instant mobility |
| First-week comfort | Underarm pad and rib pressure, hand aches | Wrist and cuff pressure points | Pick your preferred discomfort zone |
| Stairs and tight spaces | Stable but bulky on stairs and doors | Compact and precise after practice | Forearm shines once technique locks in |
| Carrying daily items | Requires backpacks or belt bags | Can release a hand briefly thanks to cuffs | Forearm offers more flexibility |
| Storage and travel | ~58 in long when adjusted, awkward in cars | ~38 in long, fits closets and trunks easily | Forearm is more travel friendly |
| Availability | Easy to find and rent ($20–$40/mo) | Harder to rent; purchase for $40–$80+ | Underarm wins on convenience |
Which type might suit you
Imagining real scenarios narrows choices faster than specs alone, so start with the snapshot that sounds most like you.
- Need crutches today: Underarm crutches are everywhere and quick to learn, even if they hog hallway space.
- Facing lots of stairs or narrow hallways: Forearm crutches reward the practice time with better control, assuming you can tolerate a few clumsy days.
- Worried about wrist pain: Underarm crutches may feel gentler initially, but either style benefits from the grip tweaks in our comfort guide.
- Think you'll need crutches again: Investing in a good pair of forearm crutches means you are prepared for the next surprise sprain or flare.
- Care about aesthetics: Forearm crutches look more like sport gear than medical hardware, which can boost confidence when strangers keep asking what happened.
Renting vs buying
Plan to be on crutches for 4–8 weeks? Renting underarm crutches for $20–$40 per month is budget friendly, and some insurance plans reimburse rentals. Buying a basic underarm pair runs $30–$60 if your timeline is fuzzy or you dislike the idea of mystery gear.
Forearm crutches rarely show up in rental fleets, so most people buy them outright. Adjustable aluminum models start near $40; premium ergonomic sets with cushioned cuffs push past $100. If you like them, they stick around for future injuries or lend themselves to friends, which may or may not be an upside.
Renting anything? Inspect the tips, grips, pads, and pins before you leave the store. Worn tread or loose buttons are safety hazards even if the monthly price looks irresistible.
How lifestyle and strength influence the decision
- Stairs: Forearm crutches give cleaner control on staircases once your PT signs off. Underarm crutches are fine when paired with a sturdy handrail and careful technique.
- Carrying things: If you constantly juggle snacks, medications, or class supplies, forearm crutches free a hand more often. Pair either style with the strategies in our carrying guide.
- Upper-body strength: Both styles demand shoulder and hand stamina, but forearm crutches lean heavier on grip strength. Use the stay-in-shape routine to keep arms ready for longer days.
- Style considerations: Forearm crutches slide under coat sleeves and blend with outfits better, which matters for confidence on campus or at work.
Common myths
- Myth: Underarm crutches are always bad. Reality: they are fast, familiar, and safe when fitted properly for short recoveries.
- Myth: Forearm crutches are only for long-term disabilities. Reality: plenty of short term injuries benefit from their control and compactness.
- Myth: Short term means any crutch will do. Reality: misfitted crutches cause nerve pain, falls, or skipped appointments. Fit matters even for two weeks.
- Myth: You cannot switch. Reality: with provider approval and training, swapping styles mid-recovery is common.
Fast checks
- Provider cleared you for crutch use and set weight-bearing status.
- You know how many stairs or narrow hallways are in your routine.
- You assessed hand, wrist, and shoulder comfort levels.
- You have a plan for carrying essentials hands-free.
- You know where to get help if the first setup feels wrong.
FAQ
It depends on comfort, learning curve, and daily routine. Underarm crutches are easier to learn and widely available for rent, making them the default for many short term injuries. Forearm crutches offer better balance and control once you get past the first few days. Ask your provider which type supports your injury, strength, and home setup best.
Not immediately. Forearm crutches rely on wrist and forearm strength, so the first day or two feel awkward. Underarm crutches usually feel stable within an hour. After a few days of guided practice, many people prefer the control forearm crutches provide.
Comfort is personal. Underarm crutches can rub ribs if the height is off, while forearm crutches can create wrist or cuff hot spots. Use padding, gloves, or grip upgrades from the hand and wrist guide regardless of style.
Yes, if your provider approves and can refit you. Many people start with underarm crutches for convenience, then move to forearm crutches if they need support longer than expected or want better stair control.
Rent underarm crutches if you need them for 4–8 weeks and want the lowest upfront cost. Buy forearm crutches if rentals are unavailable or you expect to reuse them. Always check insurance coverage for rentals or purchases.
Conclusion
The choice between underarm and forearm crutches is rarely about which style wins on paper; it is about which one matches your body, apartment layout, commute, and energy on a given week. Underarm crutches are the practical default when you need immediate support and do not have the bandwidth to learn something new. Forearm crutches appear to reward the learning curve with more control and a smaller footprint once the awkward phase passes.
Bring your provider a scribbled list of questions about stairs, hand pain, rentals, and budget. Ask to test both styles in a hallway so you can feel the differences before committing. If something feels wrong after you get home, speak up early and request a refit or style change—waiting rarely makes it better.
For deeper gear research, pair this article with the What to Look for When Buying Crutches guide, the hand and wrist comfort plan, and the carry-everything playbook. Those links cover the rest of the crutch learning curve so you can focus on healing instead of reinventing every wheel.