How do you use a cane?

To use a cane effectively, hold it on your stronger side, opposite your injured or weaker leg, and move it forward simultaneously with your injured leg to provide continuous support and stability.

Proper cane usage is crucial for maximizing support, improving balance, and reducing strain on an injured or weakened leg. It involves more than just holding the stick; it requires understanding the correct height, hand placement, and synchronized movement with your body.

1. Adjusting Your Cane to the Right Height

Achieving the correct cane height is the first step to ensuring comfort and efficacy.

• Measurement: Stand upright with your arm relaxed and hanging at your side, wearing your typical walking shoes. The top of the cane handle should align with the crease of your wrist.
• Elbow Bend: When holding the cane, your elbow should have a slight bend, typically around 15 to 20 degrees. This ensures proper support and prevents shoulder or wrist strain.

2. Deciding Which Side to Hold Your Cane

Always hold the cane on the stronger side of your body, which is the side opposite your injured or weaker leg.

• Support Leverage: Holding the cane on your stronger side allows it to act as an extension of your body, taking weight off your affected limb and providing better balance and stability.

3. Walking with a Cane

The technique for walking with a cane focuses on coordinated movement to maintain your balance and provide consistent support.

• Synchronized Movement: As demonstrated in the video "How to Walk with a Cane Correctly - Ask Doctor Jo," the key instruction is that "you always want to start off with that injured leg so you can bring the cane forward. So it's going to follow. The whole time." This means that the cane moves forward at the same time as your injured or weaker leg.
• Gait Pattern Steps:
  1. Step Forward: Advance the cane and your injured or weaker leg forward simultaneously.
  2. Step Through: Step past the cane with your stronger leg.
  3. Repeat: Continue this smooth, rhythmic pattern, ensuring your weight is shifted effectively with each step.

4. Navigating Stairs with a Cane

Using a cane on stairs requires a specific sequence to ensure safety.

• Going Up Stairs: Remember the phrase "good goes to heaven."
  1. Step up with your stronger leg first onto the next step.
  2. Bring the cane and your injured/weaker leg up to meet it on the same step.
• Going Down Stairs: Remember the phrase "bad goes to hell."
  1. Place the cane and your injured/weaker leg down onto the lower step.
  2. Bring your stronger leg down to meet them on the same step.

5. Sitting Down and Standing Up with a Cane

Using your cane for support during transitions is vital for preventing falls.

• To Sit Down:
  1. Back up until you feel the chair against the back of your strong leg.
  2. If stable, shift the cane to the hand on your injured side, or place it securely beside you.
  3. Reach back for the chair's armrests (if available) with both hands, using them for support.
  4. Slowly lower yourself into the chair, leading with your injured leg.
• To Stand Up:
  1. Move to the edge of the chair.
  2. Place the cane firmly on the floor beside your strong foot.
  3. Push up using both the chair armrests and the cane, transferring your weight predominantly through your strong leg.
  4. Once standing, reposition the cane to your strong side if it was moved.

Summary of Effective Cane Use