Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A crutch has a small set of named parts: a support at the top (an underarm pad, or a cuff on a forearm crutch), a handgrip, a shaft with adjustment holes and a locking button, and a rubber tip. This page names each part as manufacturer and charity manuals do, shows which parts are adjustable, and lists which parts those manuals name as wear items. Clinic staff, buyers and students can use it to name a part correctly before discussing or ordering a replacement.
What are the parts of a crutch?
The parts differ between underarm (axillary) and forearm (elbow) crutches. Underarm crutches have an underarm pad, a handgrip, a shaft with height adjustment holes and a locking button, and a rubber tip. Forearm crutches have a cuff, a collar, a handgrip, adjustment holes with a spring button, and a rubber tip.
What federal regulation says a crutch is
21 CFR 890.3150 identifies a crutch as “a device intended for medical purposes for use by disabled persons to provide minimal to moderate weight support while walking.” The same section classifies it as Class I (general controls) and exempts it from premarket notification, subject to the limits in 21 CFR 890.9. The regulation names no parts, so part names come from manufacturers’ instructions. For the wider product family see what crutches are and how the types differ.
Underarm crutch parts
The Evadale Healthcare (Unicare) underarm crutch manual names these parts: underarm pad, handle (handgrip) fixed with a bolt and wingnut, shaft, leg extension locking button, height adjustment holes, rubber tips and frame. The McKesson Quick Adjust aluminum crutch instructions label an underarm pad, an adjustment tube, a receptacle tube, top, middle and bottom adjustment holes, a hand grip, a euro-style clip, brass or silver push pins and a tip. Different makers use different words for the same function, for example locking button, push pin and clip.
Forearm crutch parts
The Canadian Red Cross instructions for forearm (elbow) crutches, copyright 2011, label a cuff, a collar, cuff adjustment holes, a handgrip, a spring button and adjustment holes. The Red Cross states that “cuffs are designed to add stability to the forearm crutch. They are not intended to support the user’s weight.” It also notes that cuff adjustment is not available on all models.
Crutch parts table: where each part is and what the manuals say
| Part | Where it is | What the manual says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underarm pad | Top of an underarm crutch | Labelled as the top support of the underarm crutch; its height follows the shaft’s adjustment holes. | Evadale; McKesson |
| Handgrip | Where the hand holds the crutch | Underarm models: a separately adjustable part fixed with a bolt and wingnut (Evadale). Forearm models: a labelled handgrip (Red Cross). Evadale and the Red Cross name mild soap and warm water for cleaning. | Evadale; McKesson; Red Cross |
| Shaft and adjustment holes | Body of the crutch | Height is changed by moving a locking button, push pin or spring button to a different hole. | Evadale; McKesson; Red Cross |
| Locking button / push pin / spring button | At the adjustment holes | Listed as a check item: push buttons firmly in place (McKesson), spring buttons fully engaged (Red Cross), locking buttons engaged (Evadale). | Evadale; McKesson; Red Cross |
| Wingnut and bolt | At the underarm-crutch handle | Fasten the handle to the shaft. | Evadale |
| Cuff and collar | Top of a forearm crutch | The cuff adds stability to the forearm and is not intended to support the user’s weight. The collar is a labelled part at the leg extensions and cuffs. | Red Cross |
| Rubber tip | Floor end of the crutch | A named wear part: Evadale lists rips, tears, cracks and general wear; McKesson lists worn tips; the Red Cross lists rips, tears, cracks and worn tread. | Evadale; McKesson; Red Cross |
Which crutch parts adjust
All three manuals describe height adjustment through holes in the shaft with a locking button, push pin or spring button, and a handgrip positioned separately from the pad or cuff. The McKesson Quick Adjust model (146-RTL10433) is described as adjustable and collapsible, with a stated weight capacity of 300 lbs (136 kg). Settings differ by manufacturer, so the manual supplied with the product governs. For size ranges across child, youth and adult models see crutch sizes; this page does not repeat them.
Which parts wear and are named for checking
- Tips: all three manuals name the rubber tip as a part to check or replace when worn.
- Locking buttons or push pins: listed as a check item in the Evadale, McKesson and Red Cross manuals.
- Handgrips: the McKesson safety check lists handgrips being secure; Evadale lists screws being secured.
- Cleaning: Evadale names mild soap and warm water for the frame and grips and says harsh abrasives, solvents and wire brushes may damage the aluminium and rubber.
Two parts have their own pages: crutch grips and crutch pads.
Safe use and handling basics
The McKesson instructions state that the crutches are not made with natural rubber latex and are used after training from a doctor or physical therapist. Fit and use for an individual are decided by a clinician.
Common mistakes
- Treating one maker’s part name as universal; the same part is called a locking button, push pin or clip depending on the maker.
- Assuming a forearm crutch cuff carries weight; the Red Cross says it does not.
- Ordering a replacement tip or grip without checking the model’s manual for the part name.
FAQ
What are the parts of crutches?
Underarm crutches have an underarm pad, handgrip, shaft with height adjustment holes and a locking button, and rubber tips. Forearm crutches have a cuff, collar, handgrip, adjustment holes with a spring button, and a rubber tip. Part names vary by maker; see the table above for the manual that uses each name.
Which part of a crutch wears out first?
The manuals do not rank parts, but all three name the rubber tip as the part to inspect when it shows rips, cracks or wear.
Do all forearm crutches have a cuff?
No. The Red Cross instructions note that cuff adjustment is not available on all models.
Does the FDA name the parts of a crutch?
No. 21 CFR 890.3150 defines the device and its Class I classification but lists no parts.
Compare with other aids
Parts pages for other mobility aids: cane parts and parts of a rollator.
Sources
- US eCFR via Cornell LII, 21 CFR 890.3150 Crutch: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/890.3150, checked 2026-10-30. FDA classification record: https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=regulation_number:890.3150, checked 2026-10-30.
- Evadale Healthcare (Unicare), Underarm Crutches Instruction and Safety Manual: https://cdn.unicarehealth.com.au/cordocs/Instruction%20and%20Safety%20Manuals/Patient%20Care/Section%206/6010-6022_Instruction-and-Safety-Manual_Lo-Res.pdf, checked 2026-10-30.
- McKesson, Quick Adjust Aluminum Crutches instructions for use, 146-RTL10433: https://imgcdn.mckesson.com/CumulusWeb/Click_and_learn/146-RTL10433_ifu_2021.pdf, checked 2026-10-30.
- Canadian Red Cross, Instructions for care and use of forearm crutches, copyright 2011: https://cdn.redcross.ca/prodmedia/crc/documents/How-We-Help/Community-Health-Services-in-Canada/Instructions-for-care-and-use-of-forearm-crutches.PDF, checked 2026-10-30.
