Cane which hand to use

The correct cane length is the key to safe use and better mobility. Many models of canes are adjustable, but it is still helpful to know what the proper length should be. For most persons, the right sized cane is within one inch of half their height. This guideline can be applied if the user is not available for an actual measurement. If you are using the cane for general mobility rather than an injury, hold the cane using your dominant hand and bear weight on this side of your body. If you are working with a physical therapist due to an injury, he or she may have a specific cane-walking plan different from this one.

This will keep your hands free while you are walking. Edelstein J. Canes, crutches, and walkers. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Total hip replacement rehabilitation: progression and restrictions. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. Updated by: Linda J. Editorial team. Using a cane. The 2 main types of canes are: Canes with a single tip Canes with 4 prongs on the bottom Your surgeon or physical therapist will help you choose the type of cane that is best for you.

The tip or all 4 prongs need to be on the ground before you put your weight on your cane. Look forward when you walk, not down at your feet.

Make sure your cane has been adjusted to your height: The handle should be at the level of your wrist. Your elbow should be slightly bent when you hold the handle. Choose a cane with a comfortable handle. Use a chair with armrests when you can to make sitting and standing easier.

Walking and Turning with a Cane. Follow these steps when you walk with a cane: Stand with a firm grip on your cane.

At the same time that you step forward with your weaker leg, swing the cane the same distance in front of you. The tip of the cane and your forward foot should be even. Take some of the pressure off your weaker leg by placing pressure on the cane. Take each step one at a time, using your good leg to move forward each time.

All of this advice is helpful, but it can be hard to fully apply unless you know what exactly is wrong with your walking gait. How do you do that? Here are three solutions, listed in order from the most effective to the least effective:. This is far and away the best method of evaluating your gait. A physical therapist will observe you walking and give you pointers on how to correct your walking mechanics in ways that are tailored specifically to you.

Not everyone has health insurance that makes a visit to a physical therapist possible. At these stores, staff are usually trained to evaluate the gait of a customer so that they can recommend a shoe that will promote healthy walking. Finally, if you have access to a camera such as on your smartphone , you can take a short video of yourself walking across a room. Film yourself walking across a room and compare that video to online videos of proper gait demonstrations.

If you detect any abnormalities in your gait, you can work to correct them on your own. This is the easiest, albeit the least effective, way to evaluate your walking mechanics. If you have a height-adjustable walking cane, you are one of the lucky people who gets to customize the fit of their cane to their needs. Adjusting these canes is, for the most part, rather uncomplicated. Most adjustable canes are held in place by a metal button placed on the shaft; press the button in, and the cane will slide up and down.

You can adjust the height of the cane in one-inch increments, more than enough to get it to a comfortable and healthy height. Properly using a cane is crucial to your ability to maximize its benefits for your health and wellbeing. Have questions about proper cane use? Any nuggets of wisdom for other readers who might be using a cane for the first time? Please leave your thoughts below! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Skip to content By jwilder. Table of Contents. How to Measure for a Cane. How to Properly Hold and Use a Cane. How to Correct Your Walking Mechanics. How to Adjust a Cane. Canes accomplish two goals.