After a tibial plateau fracture ended her marathon season, physiotherapist and runner Sarah M. shares how she navigated a 14-week non-weight-bearing recovery, and what she learned about mobility aids from the other side of the treatment table.
Sarah had run seven marathons before she fell. A misjudged step on a gravel trail descent in the Blue Mountains resulted in a complex lateral tibial plateau fracture that required open reduction and internal fixation. Her surgeon's instructions were unambiguous: non-weight-bearing on the left leg for twelve weeks, minimum.
For a physiotherapist who spends her working days advising patients on mobility aids, the experience of becoming a crutch user herself was unexpectedly humbling and, she says, professionally transformative.
The First Two Weeks: Harder Than Expected
Sarah describes the first fortnight as the most physically and psychologically demanding period of her recovery. Despite her clinical training, she found the upper limb fatigue from crutch use genuinely debilitating. “I had wrist pain by day four. I was over-gripping, holding the handles too tightly because I was anxious about falling. Every physio tells their patients to relax their grip, and I still did it myself.”
She also acknowledges underestimating the cardiovascular demand. “Moving on crutches burns significantly more energy than walking. I was tired after basic tasks getting to the kitchen, showering. That's something clinicians should communicate more clearly to patients.”
Week-by-Week: A Recovery Timeline
- Weeks 1–2: Adaptation Phase Establishing basic mobility patterns at home. Focusing on safe transfers: bed to standing, toilet, shower. Managing wrist and shoulder soreness from grip and load. Sleep disrupted by positional discomfort.
- Weeks 3–6: Building Endurance Gradual increase in walking distance. Return to work (sedentary clinic role) at week four with modified duties. First outdoor excursion at week five. Identified need for ergonomic handle upgrade to address persistent wrist pain.
- Weeks 7–10: Confidence & Independence Public transport navigation. Negotiating shopping centres, uneven footpaths, and stairs. Psychological adjustment to the visibility of disability in social settings. Reconnecting with running community in an observational capacity.
- Weeks 11–14: Transition to Partial Weight-Bearing Surgeon cleared gradual weight-bearing at week 12. Transition from two-crutch NWB to single crutch partial weight-bearing. Progressive gait retraining commenced. Crutches fully ceased at week 16.
- Months 5–7: Return to Running Walk-run intervals began at month five under physiotherapy guidance. First continuous 5 km run at month six. Half marathon completed at month nine. Full marathon goal set for the following season.
What She Would Tell Her Patients Now
Get your fit professionally checked
Sarah had her crutches fitted by the hospital occupational therapist before discharge, but found herself readjusting the height multiple times in the first week. “The hospital fitting is a starting point, not a final answer. Your posture, your fatigue level, your footwear, they all interact with your crutch height. Don't be afraid to readjust and reassess.”
Invest in ergonomic handles early
The single equipment change that made the greatest difference to her comfort was upgrading from standard handles to anatomic ergonomic grips at week three. “The pressure distribution across the palm is completely different. I wish I'd done it from day one. For patients who are going to be on crutches for more than two weeks, I now routinely recommend the upgrade.”
Prepare your home before you leave hospital
Sarah returned home to discover that her bathroom had no grab rails, her shower had a 15 cm step, and her bedroom was on the first floor with no handrail on the internal staircase. “I had to problem-solve under duress, which is the worst time to do it. Every patient should have a home environment assessment before or immediately after discharge.”
The Unexpected Benefits
Sarah is careful not to romanticise the experience, but acknowledges that her recovery generated genuine professional insight. “I have considerably more empathy for patients navigating stairs, public transport, and simple daily tasks on crutches. I've also become much more thorough in my discharge planning and home environment conversations. The experience changed my practice.”
She ran her eighth marathon eight months after surgery a personal best.
Related at VidaStride: the upgrade Sarah recommends (an ergonomic replacement hand grip), plus our full forearm crutch range. New to crutches? Read our guide to fitting forearm crutches and home safety modifications.