Walking frame, crutches or walking stick — how to choose a walking aid

Choose a walking frame when walking is unsteady, balance is poor or the doctor has advised taking weight off a leg, and the person has little strength in their arms. Elbow crutches suit someone with good balance and strong arms who needs to take weight off a leg. A walking stick is enough for mild pain in one leg. Set any aid so that the elbow is bent by about 15–30 degrees.

Below you will find a comparison table, tips on setting the height, rules for walking with a stick, warning signs and information on funding.

How do a walking frame, crutches and a walking stick differ?

They differ in how much support they give and how much they demand of the user. A walking frame has the widest base and gives the greatest stability, but it slows walking down and makes stairs difficult. Crutches allow you to take a lot of weight off a leg, but they require arm strength, coordination and good balance. A walking stick gives the least support, but it is the most convenient at home and outdoors.

When to choose a walking frame, crutches or a walking stick?

A walking frame is usually chosen for poor balance, after falls, after a fracture of the neck of the femur and for people weakened after a hospital stay. Crutches are a good solution after knee or ankle surgery or after a joint replacement, when the person has strong arms. A walking stick helps with mild pain in one leg, when balance is good and walking is only slightly unsteady.

The aid often changes during rehabilitation: after a hip fracture the patient starts with a walking frame, then moves on to crutches and finally to a walking stick. We describe this stage in our post on rehabilitation after a fracture of the neck of the femur.

How to set the height of a walking frame, crutches and a stick?

Stand up straight in the shoes you wear every day, with your arms hanging loosely. The handle of the walking frame, crutch or stick should be level with the crease of your wrist. When you hold the handle, your elbow should be slightly bent, by about 15–30 degrees. With elbow crutches, the cuff should wrap around the forearm a few centimetres below the elbow.

An aid that is too high lifts the shoulder and tires the arm; one that is too low forces you to lean forward, which increases the risk of falling. Also check the rubber tips – worn or cracked ones need replacing, as they slip on a wet floor.

Which hand should you hold a walking stick in and how do you walk with it?

Hold the walking stick in the hand opposite the painful or weaker leg – so with pain in the right knee, in the left hand. The stick and the affected leg move forward together, and the healthy leg takes the second step. This mirrors the natural arm swing when walking and shifts some of the weight from the painful leg to the arm.

On stairs there is a simple rule: going up, the healthy leg goes first; going down, the affected leg goes first together with the stick.

Can you get a walking aid with NFZ funding?

Crutches, walking sticks and walking frames are medical devices which in Poland the NFZ may partly reimburse on the basis of an order issued by an authorised doctor or another authorised specialist . The amount of the subsidy, the period of use and the rules for fulfilling the order depend on current regulations, so it is worth asking your doctor about them.

The “W zdrowym ciele” clinic sees private patients only and does not issue NFZ orders .

How does a physiotherapist help you choose an aid?

The physiotherapist assesses strength, balance and the way the person walks, checks the doctor’s recommendations on weight-bearing and, on that basis, suggests the type of aid. They set its height and teach safe walking, including on stairs and over thresholds. The aid is best chosen in the person’s own home, on their own floors and stairs and in narrow passages.

Prices valid from 08.2026. The physiotherapist decides on the number of visits individually. A walking aid is only one part of fall prevention – it is worth combining it with the exercises described in our post falls in older people – balance exercises.

Summary

A walking frame gives the most support, crutches let a person with strong arms take weight off a leg, and a walking stick is enough for mild pain in one leg. Set the handle at wrist height, hold the stick in the hand opposite the affected leg, and if walking suddenly becomes difficult, see a doctor first.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Bradley S.M., Hernandez C.R., Geriatric assistive devices, American Family Physician, 2011.
• Van Hook F.W., Demonbreun D., Weiss B.D., Ambulatory devices for chronic gait disorders in the elderly, American Family Physician, 2003.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention (CG161), 2013.
• Act of 12 May 2011 on the reimbursement of medicines, foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses and medical devices (Ustawa o refundacji leków, środków spożywczych specjalnego przeznaczenia żywieniowego oraz wyrobów medycznych).