Crutches for Women & Petite Adults: Sizing Guide

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Crutches aren't really sized by gender. What decides whether a pair fits is your height, your measurements and where the handgrips land. That's good news if you're 5'0" and tired of crutches that won't go low enough. It's just as good news if you're 5'11" and keep getting steered toward the petite options.

This guide is for shorter adults first, and for anyone who wants to get the size right before ordering.

The short answer

Size by height and measurements, not by gender. Plenty of women need a Tall size, and plenty of men need a Short.
Underarm crutches: the top should sit about 1 to 2 inches below your armpits, the handgrips should be even with the top of your hip line, and your elbows should be slightly bent.
Forearm crutches: our sizing guide puts the handle at your wrist crease and the cuff 1 to 2 inches below your elbow.
If you're near the bottom of a size range, check the measurement on the product page, not just the height range.

Why fit matters so much for shorter adults

As our Youth Crutch page puts it, crutches set too tall dig into your armpits, and crutches cranked all the way down get tippy and awkward. Our crutch sizing guide lists what a poor fit can lead to: shoulder and wrist pain, nerve compression, poor posture and balance, and a higher risk of falls.

Height ranges are a starting point. Arm, torso and leg lengths vary, so two people who are both 5'2" may not set their crutches the same way. A quick tape-measure check is worth the two minutes.

How to size underarm crutches

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons gives these positioning tips on OrthoInfo:

Stand up straight in the shoes you'll normally wear.
Check the top. It should be about 1 to 2 inches below your armpits.
Check the handgrips. They should be even with the top of your hip line.
Check your elbows. They should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips.
Put your weight on your hands, not the underarm supports, to avoid damage to the nerves and blood vessels in your armpits.

Before you order, our product page suggests measuring from the floor to your underarm while standing in your shoes. Compare that number to the size chart. Our short video, Finding the Correct Underarm Size: Tall or Short?, walks through it.

How to size forearm crutches

Forearm crutches have no underarm rest. Our product pages say forearm sizing "is based on handle height, not overall body height." To pick a size, stand upright in your usual shoes and measure from the floor to your hip. With your arms relaxed at your sides, that's about where your wrist crease falls.

Once they arrive, our sizing guide suggests these checks:

The handle lines up with your wrist crease.
The forearm cuff sits 1 to 2 inches below your elbow.
Your elbows bend slightly, about 15 to 30 degrees.
Your weight goes through your hands.

Test them indoors first, and adjust as needed over time.

in-Motion size ranges at a glance

Here's what our product pages list for each crutch. All heights are for the user.

in-Motion Pro Forearm, Short: adults 4'2" to 5'5". Floor-to-hip 23.5" to 33.5". Handle adjusts across 11 positions.
in-Motion Pro Forearm, Tall: 5'3" to 6'8". Floor-to-hip 28.5" to 42.5". Handle adjusts across 15 positions.
in-Motion Pro Underarm, Short: 4'8" to 5'9". Floor-to-underarm 42" to 52". Underarm cradle adjusts across 11 positions; hand grip adjusts separately at 4.
in-Motion Pro Underarm, Tall: 5'10" to 7'1". Floor-to-underarm 52.5" to 65.5". 15 cradle positions and 5 grip positions.
in-Motion Youth Crutch: 4'11" to 5'7". Floor-to-armpit 45" to 51". Rated to 300 lbs.

The Rigid Post version of the Pro Forearm comes in the same Short and Tall ranges.

If you're between sizes

Forearm crutches, 5'3" to 5'5": your height falls in both the Short and Tall ranges. Let your floor-to-hip measurement decide. Both sizes cover 28.5" to 33.5". Below 28.5" points to Short, and above 33.5" points to Tall.

Underarm crutches: the Short and Tall ranges don't overlap. If you're 5'9" or under, the page points you to Short. If you're 5'10" or 5'11", it recommends confirming your floor-to-underarm measurement is at least 52.5" before ordering Tall, because some users at that height find the lowest setting runs slightly tall.

Under 4'8": Of the crutches above, only the Pro Forearm Short (from 4'2") lists heights that low. If you're not sure it will fit, call us before you order.

Still not sure? Call us at (877) 753-5556 and we'll help you size it before you order.

If you're a taller woman

Skip the petite advice and go by the chart. The Underarm Short tops out at 5'9", so 5'10" and up is Tall. Our guide to crutches for tall adults covers the fit problems taller users tend to run into.

Comfort tips that help at any height

Pick the snug cuff. Both the Tall and Short Pro Forearm sizes come with a standard cuff and a large cuff, so you can use the one that fits your forearm best.
Keep the underarm rest off your armpit. Your hands do the work.
Mind the wrist angle. The grips on our Pro crutches are angled to keep your wrist in its natural position.
Measure in the shoes you'll actually wear. Our product pages ask for this, so if you switch to shoes with a very different sole height, re-check the fit.

A quick note on our crutches

Our in-Motion crutches come in sizes that reach down to shorter adults. The in-Motion Pro Forearm Crutch Set has spring assist, angled left and right grips, and both cuff sizes in the box. Each crutch weighs 1.8 lbs. If you'd rather skip the spring, there's a Rigid Post version.

The in-Motion Pro Underarm Crutch Set has spring assist and foam padding at the underarm cradle, and it folds in half without changing your height settings. Each crutch weighs 2.2 lbs. Our adult Pro crutches are rated to 350 lbs.

The in-Motion Youth Crutch Set is made for the 4'11" to 5'7" range, and the product page names short and petite adults among the people it's built for. It has a rigid post, doesn't fold, and is rated to 300 lbs. You can compare everything on our Shop All Crutches page.

FAQ

What size crutches does a 5'2" woman need?

At 5'2", you're within the listed range for the Pro Forearm Short (4'2" to 5'5"), the Pro Underarm Short (4'8" to 5'9") and the Youth Crutch (4'11" to 5'7"). Measure floor to hip for forearm crutches or floor to underarm for underarm crutches, and check that number against the size chart.

Are there crutches made just for women?

Our crutches aren't sized by gender. Fit comes from your height and measurements, so a tall woman and a tall man would choose the same size.

Can a petite adult use youth crutches?

Yes, if your measurements fit. Our Youth Crutch is made for 4'11" to 5'7" and a floor-to-armpit measurement of 45" to 51". It's rated to 300 lbs, has no spring and doesn't fold.

How do I know if my crutches fit?

For underarm crutches, OrthoInfo says the top should be 1 to 2 inches below your armpits, the handgrips even with the top of your hip line, and your elbows slightly bent. Your weight should rest on your hands.

What if I'm between two sizes?

Use your measurement, not just your height. For forearm crutches, that's floor to hip. If you're still unsure, call us at (877) 753-5556.

Related guides

This article is for general information only and isn't medical advice. Talk with your doctor or physical therapist about which crutches are right for your injury, how they should fit, and how much weight you can put on your leg.