BOPDHB Patient Resources Hip and Knee joint replacement book - June 2016 | Page 64

Hip exercises

Stairs
A good way to remember which leg goes first when going up
/ down stairs with crutches, is using the acronyms GAS and
SAG.

Going up
Place GOOD leg first.
Then AFFECTED leg up same
step.
Followed lastly by STICKS
(crutches).
If using a banister/hand rail, put
your crutches into one hand in
the shape of a cross, and hold
the banister with the other hand,
as in the first picture.
If someone is with you when using the stairs, please ask them to
carry one crutch to enable you to use the banister/hand rail.

Going down
Place STICKS (crutches) down
a step first.
Then AFFECTED leg on step.
Followed by GOOD leg on same
step.

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