Crutches for Gout, and Other Available Mobility Tools

Gout is a common and treatable form of inflammatory arthritis in which uric acid builds up in your tissues and joints, causing pain and inflammation. It usually happens in the feet and in certain joints, particularly your big toe, and a flare-up might wake you in the middle of the night.

While gout can be quite painful, there are things you can do to treat it, such as changing your diet and taking medication. But during an acute flare-up, you might need a mobility aid if you find it difficult or too painful to walk.

If you have a gout flare-up, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor to access treatments that can help manage your gout. Your healthcare team can recommend a treatment program that might include medications to help you feel better, such as corticosteroids and over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories.

You can also use crutches to take your weight off the painful joint.

When you contact a healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment, you can ask whether crutches would help you stay mobile while you wait for a flare-up to go away.

If your medical professional recommends them, many insurance companies will often cover the cost of crutches. If you have surgery, the hospital may also send you home with a set. The advantage of getting crutches from your doctor or hospital is that staff can make sure they fit and work properly.

If you don’t have insurance or your insurance won’t cover crutches, there are often nonprofit organizations that temporarily lend medical equipment. You could also buy them online or rent them by the month. A friend or family member might also have some to lend.

There are different types of crutches, and not all of them may help. Most crutches work by transferring weight from your lower to your upper body, but that may not work well for everyone.

There are three types of crutches:

The wrong crutches could lead to falls or injuries, but a medical professional will typically know which type you need.

Once you have crutches, it’s important to use them correctly to avoid injury or worsening your gout.

Here are some tips for using the most common type, called underarm crutches:

For videos and tips on how to use them in just about any situation, check out our guide.

The Arthritis Foundation also recommends using a cane if it’s too painful to put pressure on your joint.

Canes generally fall into single-, three- or quad-point categories. Most people just need a single point, although some people may need one with more points for added stability.

The foundation provides the following recommendations:

Some people find that having the right footwear helps ease pressure on their feet and affected joints.

While a small 2019 study showed that special footwear didn’t help with gout foot pain in the long term, it did help in the short term.

The researchers from the study above recommend shoes that conform to your foot, are pliable, and have adjustable straps and a wide opening. Shoes with those features helped the study participants walk a little faster.

There are plenty of gout orthotics available online. Speak with your doctor or specialist about what types would help the most.

In a 2016 study comparing health-related quality of life between Black and white people with gout, researchers found that Black people were more likely to have functional limitations and a lower quality of life than white people.

A 2014 study by one of the same authors also found that Black people reported more pain and emotional burden than other populations.

Experts need to perform more research to determine and address the disparity, but the interventions above can help you stay mobile in the event of a flare-up.

Even if you have gout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends walking or doing other joint-friendly exercise to manage your weight and stay healthy. In fact, many physicians may recommend weight loss, including with exercise, for people with gout who have obesity or overweight.

Joint-friendly activities you can do with gout include walking, biking, and swimming. They are low impact activities with a low risk of injury and don’t stress or twist your joints. However, if you have a painful flare in your feet, your doctor might recommend that you avoid walking for a while to prevent swelling.

If you choose walking as your activity, the CDC suggests the following:

Gout can cause flare-ups, making it painful or hard to walk and get around. There are various mobility aids to help you in the short term until treatment resolves the gout attack and improves your condition.

Aids include crutches or canes to relieve pressure on the affected joint, OTC anti-inflammatory medication, and the right footwear. All of these can help you stay active, which experts recommend for your overall health and the reduction of gout symptoms.