Medical Crutches Market Size & Trends:

The Medical Crutches Market size was valued at USD 825.08 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1372.68 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.59% over 2025-2032.

The global medical crutches market is driven by various factors such as increasing incidents of musculoskeletal disorders, an increase in the geriatric population, and surging accident-related injuries. According to the World Health Organization, worldwide prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and mobility disorders caused by trauma, has affected more than 1.71 billion people.

Increasing awareness about mobility aids and rehabilitation assistance has been fueling the demand for medical crutches in both developing and developed countries. U.S.-based healthcare programs, such as free medical equipment lending libraries in Wisconsin, aid low-income families to provide leverage to market penetration. Improvements in crutch ergonomics and light materials, such as carbon fibre and adjustable constructions, also facilitate acceptance. Remarkably, access to these mobility assistive devices is facilitated by regulatory support and reimbursement for their insurance in places such as the U.S. and the EU and cases for post-operative recovery are adding to the load.

Spending in R&D for assistive devices, the escalating prevalence of joint replacements, and rehabilitation due to sports injuries, emphasized by the events such as that of Erling Haaland’s ankle injury, are all other factors that contribute to the expansion of the market. Corporations are concentrating on advanced design technologies and improved comfort for driving the medical crutches market growth.

In recent developments, U.S.-based Andreessen Horowitz-backed medical equipment startup, Tomorrow Health, is innovating in healthcare logistics to make it easier to receive home-based medical equipment, such as crutches. The medical crutches industry outlook portrays the rising acceptance of the intersection between technology, patient-centric design, and healthcare logistics to evolve the medical crutches market across the world.

Medical Crutches Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

• Increasing Demand for Post-Operative Care, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, And Sports Recovery Support Is Fueling the Medical Crutches Market Growth

The medical crutches market is mainly fueled by an increase in the number of orthopedic surgeries, trauma, and degenerative joint diseases across the world. Indeed, the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and lower limb injuries worldwide is increasing, and more than 650 million people aged 60+ are expected to experience mobility problems in the next decade (National Institutes of Health, NIH). This increase in mobility-related problems calls for suitable assistive devices, such as crutches. Furthermore, the development of sophisticated crutches, including forearm crutches and platform crutches, with enhanced ergonomics, patient acceptance, can yield market growth.

Rising allocations to healthcare and public-private collaborations are improving access, especially in urban areas. For instance, in the U.S. alone, more than $2 million in grants were awarded for community reintegration and provision of assistive devices in early 2025, according to ForensicMag. At the same time, investments in R&D from the likes of iWALKFree and Millennial Medical, for instance, are centered on creating hands-free and weight-distributing crutches to minimize fatigue and improve mobility results. Regulatory efforts undertaken by players like the FDA and European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) are standardizing approval of next-gen assistive devices, ensuring quicker and safer market entry, which can foster the medical crutches market growth.

Restraints:

• The Medical Crutches Market is Restricted by Affordability Issues, Inconsistent Supply Chains, And Poor Accessibility in Rural or Underdeveloped Healthcare Systems

High cost for advanced mobility aids is a key factor challenging the market of medical crutches, especially in low and middle-income countries. Now, basic underarm crutches are easily obtainable; however, the ergonomic and custom-fit versions are still out of reach of uninsured or low-income patients.

WHO said more than 75% of the people with disabilities in the developing world have no access to crutches and other products, primarily because of the cost or how they are distributed. Furthermore, the global supply chain disruptions, such as the U.S.-imposed steel and aluminum tariffs in 2025, have pushed up raw material costs for manufacturers, and hence, end-user prices. Delayed procurement and delivery, especially in conflict or disaster areas, also impact accessibility in a timely way, such as the slow arrival of medical equipment for Yad Sarah on account of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

In addition, variable insurance payments and a lack of awareness of public assistance options are barriers to wider uptake. Even as wealthy countries are investing in infrastructure and loan programs, remote rural areas and poorer regions are being left behind because of logistical and financial obstacles.

Medical Crutches Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Product

The forearm crutch segment held the largest share of the medical crutches market in 2024. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the fact that forearm crutches provide maximum mobility support, it is ergonomically designed, and are ideal for long-term users, as well as for people with a permanent disability. The weight bearing on both arms of forearm crutches leads to higher weight redistribution, minimizing the risk of nerve damage, hence becoming a widely used option for adult and neurological and musculoskeletal disorder patients. The underarm crutch segment, on the other hand, is expected to train in the fastest CAGR on account of large-scale utilization in short-term recuperation from injury, cost effectiveness, and rising incidences of trauma and accidents all across the globe. Their high penetration in hospitals and pharmacies drives this segment further, particularly in emergency care and post-surgical recovery.

By Material

The metal alloy segment dominated the market with a share of 42% in 2024 on account of its cost-effectiveness, durability, and extensive utility to all sorts of crutches. Metal blends such as aluminum are used to create strong yet lightweight frames that boost comfort and the life of use. The carbon or glass fiber reinforced composite segment, on the other hand, is expected to register the fastest growth. This increase has been attributed to a demand for ultra-lightweight material with a high strength-to-weight ratio, with reduced user fatigue and improved mobility in high-performance and long-term users in particular.

By End-Use

Based on end use, the adult was the largest end user in 2024 with a share of 56.2%. This is mainly attributed to the growing number of orthopedic operations, chronic joint pathologies, and sports accidents in adults needing crutch function over the short or medium-term. Moreover, increasing the affordability and availability of specialized rehabilitation products also stimulates segmental dominance. In contrast, the children's section is anticipated to register the fastest growth, due to an increase in pediatric orthopedic and trauma cases across the world. The rise of early intervention was known, and pediatric-friendly lightweight crutches are becoming more accepted amongst young users.

Medical Crutches Market Regional Insights:

North America held the largest share of the medical crutches market in 2024 as a result of high-quality healthcare infrastructure, high surgical and disease burden cases, and a favorable insurance coverage scenario. The area is seeing growing orthopaedic surgical procedures, an aging population, and both public and private support initiatives. The U.S. medical crutches market size was valued at USD 331.66 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 498.95 million by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.29% over 2025-2032. The U.S. is dominated by its high demand for post-operative rehabilitation and the abundant presence of advanced mobility devices in the region. More than 32.5 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, a chronic and pervasive disease of the joints, and this prevalence fuels the demand for support devices, the CDC reports. And initiatives such as free lending libraries improve accessibility. In Canada, Fort Healthcare is experiencing increasing demand due to a growing elderly population and sports-related injuries, while Mexico is slowly growing, due to public healthcare spending and the importation of low-cost crutches.

Europe is the second most dominant market, and an aging population and supportive reimbursement are driving the growth in this region. The area is home to a number of makers of lightweight, ergonomic crutch designs. This is dominated by Germany and driven by high healthcare spending and a well-established rehabilitation infrastructure. More than 21 million Germans are over 65, which shows a very high potential market. The growth in joint replacement and aged care mobility services in France and the UK is also significant. Cheap Eastern European countries such as Poland are becoming the new homes for the production of crutch parts.

The Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing medical crutches market supported by the vast population affected with disorders like Neuromuscular Disorders, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Bone Cancer, Spinal Cord Injury, Mobility Disorders, and others, owing to the rapid urbanization, rising accidents & the growing access to healthcare. China is one of the major markets in the region, as key factors such as a rising geriatric population and the blooming industrial production of vehicles for the disabled propel demand for the region. China, which has over 260 million people aged 60 or older, is a large user base. India is the power engine of growth because of an increase in road accidents, as well as an increase in medical device access through government schemes.

Medical Crutches Market Key Players:

Leading medical crutches companies operating in the market include Sunrise Medical, Nova Medical Products, Millennial Medical, Chinesport, IWALKFree, Cardinal Health, Home Medical Products, New York Millennium Pharmaceutical, AMG Medical, Breg, Inc., and Valley Tool Die, Inc.

Recent Developments in the Medical Crutches Market:

• In April 2025, Sunrise Medical Launched the Empulse F35 Pull Power Assist Device, an ultra-compact, 19.8 lb power-assist unit for manual wheelchairs with up to 9.3-mile range, optimized for urban users.

• In March 2024, Cardinal Health finalized a merger with a company specializing in orthopedic support devices, aiming to bolster its medical crutches product portfolio.