You come out of foot or ankle surgery with a plan for the bone and no plan for the stairs. Most people are handed a pair of crutches, get home, and discover by day three that they can't carry a cup of tea to the couch. A knee walker solves that and creates a couple of new problems. Here's how the options compare, and what we have on the floor in Surrey.
The short version
- Your weight-bearing instructions decide this, not the equipment.
- A knee walker is the easier device for most non-weight-bearing recoveries, because both hands stay free and your arms don't do the work.
- Knee walkers cannot go on stairs. If you sleep upstairs, you still need crutches for those.
- Forearm crutches are kinder for anything long-term, since the load goes through the cuff and grip instead of your armpit.
- Fit is not optional. Badly set crutches cause more trouble than the injury does.
Start with your weight-bearing instructions
Find the line in your discharge paperwork that says how much weight the operated leg may take. "Non-weight-bearing" means none at all — the foot doesn't touch down, even for balance. "Partial" or "as tolerated" are different situations with different equipment.
A knee walker is built for the first case: your shin rests on a padded platform and your good leg pushes, so the injured foot never loads. If the injury is to the knee itself, a knee walker isn't the right device at all.
Not sure what you were told? Bring the discharge sheet to the showroom. It usually spells out the weight-bearing status and how many weeks it applies for, and that one line settles most of the decision.
Knee walker vs crutches, side by side
| Option | Suits | Stairs | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underarm crutches | Short recoveries; anyone who needs something simple and immediate | Possible with practice and a handrail — ask your physiotherapist first | 300 lb | $88 a pair |
| Forearm crutches | Months of use, or permanent use; better posture and comfort | Yes — the cuff holds the crutch on your arm while you grip the rail | 300 lb | $109.99 a pair |
| Knee walker RECOMMENDED | Non-weight-bearing foot and ankle recovery at home and around town | No — knee walkers cannot be used on stairs | 350 lb | $299 |
Prices are our current online prices at the time of writing. Most people who choose a knee walker keep a pair of crutches too, for the stairs.
What a knee walker does well — and where it stops
The appeal is simple: your hands stay free. You can carry a plate, hold a railing, open a door, push a shopping cart. Arms don't tire the way they do on crutches. The MOBB knee walker we stock steers at the front wheel, which is what matters most in a real house — fixed-wheel scooters fight you at every doorway.
- It needs a flat, firm surface. Hardwood, tile, low carpet, sidewalks and paved paths are fine; gravel and rough ground are not.
- It will not do stairs. Plan a ground-floor sleeping arrangement, or keep crutches for the steps.
- It takes up room. Tight bathrooms and narrow kitchens are the usual pinch points.
- It isn't for knee injuries. The design rests weight on the shin and knee of the injured side.
Ours adjusts without tools — handle height 34 to 40 inches, knee pad 17 to 22 inches — holds up to 350 lb, weighs 23 lb, and comes with 8-inch wheels, hand brakes and a removable front basket.
Underarm or forearm crutches?
People assume crutches are crutches. They aren't, and the difference shows up after about a fortnight.
Underarm crutches
Quicker to learn, which is why they're the standard hand-out. The catch is where the load sits: sustained pressure in the armpit presses on the nerves and blood vessels running through it, and that's the source of the aching, tingling and hand weakness long-term users describe.
Forearm crutches
Weight travels through the cuff and grip instead. The cuff holds the crutch on your arm, so you can let go of a handle to open a door. They ask more of your upper body and take a few days to learn — worth it if you'll be on them for months.
Forearm crutches come in a junior frame for users 4'2" to 5'2". Technique matters more than hardware at that age, so involve the physiotherapist before your child uses them unsupervised.
Fitting them so they don't hurt you
- Underarm crutches: standing straight, the top pad sits roughly one to two inches below your armpit, with a slight bend in the elbow at the grip. You lean on your hands, not your armpits.
- Forearm crutches: with the tip about six inches out to the side of your foot, the grip lines up with your wrist crease and the elbow holds about a 15 to 20 degree bend. The cuff sits an inch to an inch and a half below the elbow.
- Knee walker: the pad should let the injured leg rest level, hips square, back straight rather than hunched over the handlebars.
- Check the tips. Worn rubber tips lose grip on wet floors, and they're cheap to replace.
Crutch sizing goes by height, so pick the right frame rather than winding the wrong one to the end of its range. Our pushbutton crutches come small (4'6"–5'2"), medium (5'2"–5'10") and large (5'10"–6'6"); the forearm crutches come adult (5'2"–6'2") and junior (4'2"–5'2").
Walk your own home before you decide
The device that works in the showroom sometimes fails in the hallway. Walk the route you'll take twenty times a day — bed, bathroom, kitchen, front door — and look at three things.
Doorways and turns
Bathroom doors are usually the narrowest in the house. A bathroom you enter sideways may not take a knee walker at all.
Thresholds and rugs
Raised sills, transition strips and loose mats catch small wheels and crutch tips. Roll the rugs up for the duration.
Steps, inside and out
Count every step, including the one at the front door. Any stairs at all means crutches stay in the plan.
If a new hip or knee is part of the picture, our guide to getting your home ready for hip or knee replacement recovery covers the same route in more detail, and walker or rollator covers longer-term walking aids.
Rent or buy, and what benefits might cover
A six-week recovery is the classic case for renting. We rent knee walkers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley — call or text for current availability and rates. Crutches are inexpensive enough that most people simply buy them.
Extended health plans, WorkSafeBC and ICBC claims sometimes reimburse recovery equipment when a care provider has recommended it, but every plan and claim is different and we can't promise what yours will do. Ask your provider or adjuster before you buy, and we'll give you an itemised receipt and product documentation for the claim. Our guide to what MSP does and doesn't cover explains the public side. Financing at 0% is available if the cost lands awkwardly.
What we carry for foot and ankle recovery
MOBB Knee Walker
Steerable front wheel, padded two-piece knee platform, hand brakes and a removable basket. 350 lb capacity, 23 lb.
Aluminum Pushbutton Crutches
Tool-free push-button sizing with height indicators, foam grips and underarm pads. 300 lb capacity, three sizes.
PCP 5090 Forearm Crutches
Cuffs pivot 180° to follow the forearm, with push-button adjustment at the legs and the cuffs. Adult and junior frames.
OTC 2096 Post-Op Shoe
Semi-rigid sole and two wide straps that close over a bulky dressing, then tighten as swelling drops. Fits either foot.
A post-op shoe and a walking boot aren't interchangeable — the shoe protects and offloads the forefoot, while a boot immobilises the ankle as well, so your surgeon's instructions decide which you need. You can also browse the full crutches and canes collection.
Your quick checklist
- Confirm your weight-bearing status in writing
- Count every step between the bed and the door
- Measure the narrowest doorway on your route
- Match crutch size to height, not to the box
- Clear loose rugs and cords before day one
- Ask your benefits provider before you pay
Common questions
Can I use a knee walker on stairs?
No. Knee walkers cannot be used on stairs. If you have steps at home or at your entrance, keep a pair of crutches for those and use the knee walker on the level.
Is a knee walker better than crutches?
For non-weight-bearing foot and ankle recovery on flat ground, most people find it easier: both hands stay free and your arms aren't doing the work. Crutches win on stairs, tight spaces and rough ground. Plenty of people use both.
Do I need a prescription?
No prescription is needed to buy crutches or a knee walker from us, but your surgeon or physiotherapist should confirm which device suits your weight-bearing instructions first.
Can I rent instead of buying?
Yes — we rent knee walkers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Call or text 604-240-2450 for availability and rates.
Not sure which one you need?
Try a knee walker and both styles of crutches side by side before you commit. Visit our showroom at 12987 80 Ave, Surrey, or call or text us anytime — our own team delivers and sets up across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Call 604-240-2450 See rental optionsThis article is general information, not medical advice. Follow the guidance of your doctor, nurse or occupational therapist for your specific situation.
