How should you hold a cane? What side do you hold a cane on? Find the answers in this comprehensive guide on how to use crutches, canes, and walkers for safe mobility and recovery.

Proper Positioning of Crutches, Canes, and Walkers

When using a walking aid, the proper positioning is crucial for comfort and safety. Here’s how to ensure the right fit:

Crutches

• The top of the crutches should be 1-2 inches below your armpits when standing upright.
• The handgrips should be even with the top of your hip line.
• Your elbows should be slightly bent when holding the handgrips.
• Your weight should rest on your hands, not on the underarm supports, to avoid nerve and blood vessel damage.

Canes

• The top of the cane should reach the crease in your wrist when standing upright.
• Your elbow should be slightly bent when holding the cane.
• Hold the cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support.

Walkers

• The walker should be adjusted so that the handgrips are at the level of your wrists when your arms are at your sides.
• Your elbows should be slightly bent when holding the walker.

How to Walk with Crutches

If you need to avoid putting any weight on your leg or foot, you may have to use crutches. Here’s the proper technique:

1. Lean forward slightly and place the crutches about one foot in front of you.
2. Shift your weight to the crutches and take a step forward with your good leg.
3. Bring your body forward slowly between the crutches.
4. Finish the step with your good leg.
5. Move the crutches ahead in preparation for your next step.
6. Always look forward, not down at your feet.

Using Crutches to Sit and Stand

Transitioning to and from a seated position can be challenging with crutches. Follow these steps:

Sitting Down

1. Back up to a sturdy chair.
2. Put your injured foot in front of you and hold both crutches in one hand.
3. Use your other hand to feel behind you for the seat of the chair.
4. Slowly lower yourself into the chair.
5. Lean your crutches in a nearby spot, with the tips facing down to prevent them from falling over.

Standing Up

1. Inch yourself to the front of the chair.
2. Hold both crutches in the hand on your injured side.
3. Push yourself up and stand on your good leg.

Using Crutches on Stairs

Navigating stairs with crutches can be challenging, but with practice, you can learn to do it safely:

1. Hold the handrail with one hand and tuck both crutches under your armpit on the other side.
2. When going up, lead with your good foot, keeping your injured foot raised behind you.
3. When going down, hold your injured foot up in front and hop down each step on your good foot.
4. If there are no handrails, use the crutches under both arms and hop up or down each step on your good leg.
5. If you feel unsteady, it may be easier to sit on each step and move up or down on your bottom.

Using a Cane for Balance and Stability

A cane can be helpful if you have minor problems with balance or stability, some weakness in your leg or trunk, an injury, or pain. Here’s how to use a cane properly:

• Hold the cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support.
• When standing upright, the top of the cane should reach the crease in your wrist.
• Your elbow should be slightly bent when holding the cane.

Safety Modifications for Your Home

To prevent slips and falls when using a walking aid, consider these simple home safety modifications:

• Remove throw rugs, electrical cords, food spills, and other potential tripping hazards.
• Arrange furniture to create clear, wide pathways between rooms.
• Keep stairs free of clutter and consider adding treads to prevent slipping.
• Ensure well-lit rooms and install a nightlight between your bedroom and bathroom.
• Use non-slip bath mats, grab bars, a raised toilet seat, and a shower tub seat in the bathroom.
• Simplify your household and keep frequently used items within easy reach.
• Use a backpack, fanny pack, or apron with pockets to carry things hands-free.

Gaining Confidence and Mastering Your Walking Aid

Using a crutch, cane, or walker may seem challenging at first, but with a little practice, most people are able to gain confidence and use their walking aid safely and effectively. Consider having a friend or family member nearby when you’re first learning, and don’t hesitate to ask your healthcare provider for additional guidance and support.

How to Use Crutches, Canes, and Walkers – OrthoInfo

If you break a bone in your leg or foot, have a procedure on your knee or lower leg, or suffer a stroke, your doctor may recommend that you use a walking aid while you are healing or recovering. Using crutches, a cane, or a walker can help keep your weight off your injured or weak leg, assist with balance, and enable you to perform your daily activities more safely.

When you are first learning to use your walking aid, you may wish to have a friend or family member nearby to help steady you and give you support. In the beginning, everything you do may seem more difficult. With just a few tips and a little practice, though, most people are able to quickly gain confidence and learn how to use a walking aid safely.

Making some simple safety modifications to your home can help prevent slips and falls when using your walking aid:

• Remove throw rugs, electrical cords, food spills, and anything else that may cause you to fall.
• Arrange furniture so that you have clear, sufficiently wide pathways between rooms.
• Keep stairs clear of packages, boxes, or clutter. If necessary, add treads to stairs to prevent slipping.
• Walk only in well-lit rooms and install a nightlight along the route between your bedroom and the bathroom.
• In the bathroom, use nonslip bath mats, grab bars, a raised toilet seat, and a shower tub seat.
• Simplify your household to keep the items you need within easy reach and everything else out of the way.
• Carry things hands-free by using a backpack, fanny pack, or an apron with pockets. Many walkers also come with attached pouches.

If your injury or surgery requires you to get around without putting any weight on your leg or foot, you may have to use crutches.

Proper Positioning

• When standing up straight, the top of your crutches should be about 1-2 inches below your armpits.
• The handgrips of the crutches should be even with the top of your hip line.
• Your elbows should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips.
• To avoid damage to the nerves and blood vessels in your armpits, your weight should rest on your hands, not on the underarm supports.

If you are unable to bear any weight on your leg or foot, you may have to use crutches.

©Thinkstock, 2015

Walking

• Lean forward slightly and put your crutches about one foot in front of you.
• Begin your step as if you were going to use the injured foot or leg but, instead, shift your weight to the crutches.
• Bring your body forward slowly between the crutches.
• Finish the step normally with your good leg.
• When your good leg is on the ground, move your crutches ahead in preparation for your next step.
• Always look forward, not down at your feet.

Sitting

To sit:

• Back up to a sturdy chair.
• Put your injured foot in front of you and hold both crutches in one hand.
• Use the other hand to feel behind you for the seat of your chair.
• Slowly lower yourself into the chair.
• When you are seated, lean your crutches in a nearby spot. Be sure to lean them upside down — crutches tend to fall over when they are leaned on their tips.

To stand up:

• Inch yourself to the front of the chair.
• Hold both crutches in the hand on your injured side.
• Push yourself up and stand on your good leg.

Stairs

To walk up and down stairs with crutches, you need to be both strong and flexible. You may want someone to help you, at least at first.

• Facing the stairway, hold the handrail with one hand and tuck both crutches under your armpit on the other side.
• When you are going up, lead with your good foot, keeping your injured foot raised behind you. When you are going down, hold your injured foot up in front, and hop down each step on your good foot.
• Take it one step at a time.
• If you encounter a stairway with no handrails, use the crutches under both arms and hop up or down each step on your good leg.

If you feel unsteady, it may be easier to sit on each step and move up or down on your bottom.

• Start by sitting on the lowest step with your injured leg out in front.
• Hold both crutches flat against the stairs in your opposite hand.
• Scoot your bottom up to the next step, using your free hand and good leg for support. Face the same direction when you go down the steps in this manner.

A cane can be helpful if you have minor problems with balance or stability, some weakness in your leg or trunk, an injury, or a pain.

If you are elderly, using a single point cane may help you to walk more comfortably and safely and, in some cases, may make it easier for you to continue living independently.

If you need more stability, a quad cane, which has 4 points, can be useful.

Proper Positioning

• When standing up straight, the top of your cane should reach to the crease in your wrist.
• Your elbow should be slightly bent when you hold your cane.
• Hold the cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support. For example, if your right leg is injured, hold the cane in your left hand.

A cane can help if you have minor problems with balance or stability or weakness in your leg or trunk.

©Thinkstock, 2015

Walking

• To start, set your cane about one small stride ahead of you and step off on your injured leg.
• Finish the step with your good leg.

Stairs

To climb stairs:

• Place your cane in the hand opposite your injured leg.
• With your free hand, grasp the handrail.
• Step up on your good leg first, thn step up on the injured leg.

To come down stairs:

• Put your cane on the step first
• Then, put your injured leg on the step.
• Finally, put your good leg, which carries your body weight, on the step.

If you have had total knee replacement or total hip replacement surgery, or you have another significant problem, you may need more help with balance and walking than you can get with crutches or a cane. A pickup walker with four legs will give you the most stability. A walker lets you keep all or some of your weight off of your lower body as you take steps. With a walker, you use your arms to support some of your body weight. As your strength and endurance get better, you may gradually be able to carry more weight in your legs.

Positioning

• When standing up straight, the top of your walker should reach to the crease in your wrist.
• Your elbows should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips of the walker.
• Keep your back straight. Don’t hunch over the walker.
• Check to be sure the rubber tips on your walker’s legs are in good shape. If they become uneven or worn, you can purchase new tips at a drug store or medical supply store.

If you have had total knee or total hip replacement, a walker will provide the most stability.

©Thinkstock, 2015

Walking

• First, position your walker about one step ahead of you, making sure that all four legs of the walker are on even ground.
• With both hands, grip the top of the walker for support and move your injured leg into the middle area of the walker. Do not step all the way to the front.
• Push straight down on the handgrips of the walker as you bring your good leg up so it is even with your injured leg. Always take small steps when you turn and move slowly.

Sitting

To sit:

• Back up until your legs touch the chair.
• Use your hands to feel behind you for the seat of the chair.
• Slowly lower yourself into the chair.

To stand up:

• Push yourself up using the strength of your arms and grasp the walker’s handgrips.
• Do not pull on or tilt the walker to help you stand up.

Stairs

Never climb stairs or use an escalator with your walker.

To Top

Using a cane: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

It is important to start walking soon after surgery for a leg injury. But you will need support while your leg is healing. A cane can be used for support. It may be a good choice if you only need a little help with balance and stability, or if your leg is only a little weak or painful.

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 type of cane you use will depend on how much support you need.

Talk to your health care provider if you are having a lot of pain, weakness, or balance problems. Crutches or a walker may be better options for you.

The most common question about using a cane is, “Which hand should I hold it in?” The answer is the hand opposite the leg that you had surgery on, or that is the weakest.

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.

Follow these steps when you walk with a cane:

1. Stand with a firm grip on your cane.
2. 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.
3. Take some of the pressure off your weaker leg by placing pressure on the cane.
4. Step past the cane with your strong leg.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 3.
6. Turn by pivoting on your strong leg, not the weaker leg.
7. Go slowly. It may take a while to get used to walking with a cane.

To go up one step or a curb:

• Step up with your stronger leg first.
• Place your weight on your stronger leg and bring your cane and weaker leg up to meet the stronger leg.
• Use the cane to help your balance.

To go down one step or a curb:

• Set your cane down below the step.
• Bring your weaker leg down. Use the cane for balance and support.
• Bring your stronger leg down next to your weaker leg.

If you had surgery on both legs, still lead with your strong leg when going up and your weak leg when going down. Remember, “up with the good, down with the bad.”

If there is a handrail, hold onto it and use your cane in the other hand. Use the same method for a set of stairs that you do for single steps.

Go up the stairs with your stronger leg first, then your weaker leg, and then the cane.

If you are going down the stairs, start with your cane, then your weaker leg, and then your strong leg.

Take the steps one at a time.

When you reach the top, stop for a moment to regain your balance and strength before moving on.

If you had surgery on both legs, lead with your stronger leg when going up and your weaker leg when going down.

Make changes around your house to prevent falls.

• Make sure any loose rugs, rug corners that stick up, or cords are secured to the ground so you do not trip or get tangled in them.
• Remove clutter and keep your floors clean and dry.
• Wear shoes or slippers with rubber or other non-skid soles. Do not wear shoes with heels or leather soles.

Check the tip or tips of your cane daily and replace them if they are worn. You can get new tips at your medical supply store or local drug store.

As you are learning to use your cane, have someone close by to give you extra support if needed.

Use a small backpack, fanny pack, or shoulder bag to hold items that you need with you (such as your phone). This will keep your hands free while you are walking.

Edelstein J. Canes, crutches, and walkers. In: Webster JB, Murphy DP, eds. Atlas of Orthoses and Assistive Devices. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 36.

Meftah M, Ranawat AS, Ranawat AS, Caughran AT. Total hip replacement rehabilitation: progression and restrictions. In: Giangarra CE, Manske RC, eds. Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 66.

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Republican month “Man with a White Cane” is held in Belarus

Tags:

#Vitebsk region, #Vitebsk, #News of Belarus, #traffic police, #disabled people, #Yandex. News, #action

“Cane – my eyes”. Most people perceive this phrase as a literary cliché. But in fact, a white cane for the blind is even more than eyes…

Visually impaired Artem Stotsky sees only light and shadow, he cannot distinguish shapes and colors. The 31-year-old guy crossed the roadway at an unregulated unmarked pedestrian crossing on Smolenskaya Street and shared his feelings.

– I didn’t know that there was a zebra in this place before, because there is no tactile tile installed here, which I catch with a cane. It is difficult to determine the existence of such a transition without outside help. Sometimes, when moving along the road, you slide with a cane, and a car drives along it – it’s kind of a pity, because this is my means of transportation, and it’s not cheap, – said Artem.

If the pedestrian crossing is not regulated, the guy usually asks passers-by to tell when there are no cars. If a traffic light is installed at the crossing, but it is not sounded, he asks people if the green light is on. But early in the morning, when you go to the pool through the deserted streets, you usually have to stand for a long time at such a transition until someone appears and tells you what kind of light. Voice traffic lights help a lot, notes Artem.

There are a lot of traffic lights with sound signal in the city, but they are not everywhere. The newly installed ones are provided with a sound signal without exception, commented Mikhail Dyadichkin, head of the traffic police department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

– All new objects are provided with tactile tiles on the approaches to them, it is also installed after the reconstruction, repair of buildings and roads, – the law enforcement officer noted. “This should become a permanent practice, as it is vital for people with visual impairments and will significantly reduce the risk of accidents.

It was even more difficult for Artem to cross the four-lane roadway on Pobedy Avenue. It is necessary to catch the signals of two traffic lights, and the cars come from three directions.

According to the traffic rules, in all cases, including outside pedestrian crossings, the driver must give way to blind pedestrians signaling with a white cane. Vitebsk drivers impeccably observe this rule of the road. This was shown by the raid, in which, together with the traffic police officers of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the regional executive committee, representatives of the Territorial Center for Social Services for the Population of the Oktyabrsky District and the correspondent of “VV” went.

From October 15 to November 15, in order to draw attention to the problems of blind people in Belarus, the republican month “The Man with a White Cane” is held.

– I think that the main thing on the road is mutual respect on the part of all road users, whether it be a pedestrian or a motorist, – Vitebsk resident Valery, a driver with 20 years of experience, is convinced. – I respect those who stop and take the old woman across the road. If I see a man with an outstretched cane, I will focus all my attention on him, I will try to understand his intentions. If it turns out he needs help, I’ll get out and help him cross the road.

Ekaterina, the driver, according to her, always gives way to pedestrians and has no violations in this part of the traffic rules. At the sight of a man with a white cane at the edge of the road, the woman slowed down, let him pass, but did not stop to offer help.

– The presence of a cane suggests that the person may need assistance. Therefore, it is better to stop in advance, even if he is not going to cross the road, because the blind person does not see if there is a zebra in front of him, and may not understand where he is, – an experienced driver Alexander said, seeing a man with a white cane standing at the curb.

Without thinking about the fact that there may be a blind or visually impaired person next to them in public places, people often unknowingly admit tactlessness. For example, a real problem for a visually impaired person is to determine the route number of public transport. A visually impaired person can only see large numbers, and a completely blind person has to constantly ask one of the passers-by or passengers to tell them the number of the vehicle.

– When you go to work, sometimes you take a step into the tram and ask what number, and in response – silence. You think: “Maybe empty?” You ask and then they answer. It’s good if the doors don’t have time to close,” shares Artem, who works in one of the city’s clinics. – Or, for example, a passer-by, trying to help, grabs you by the arm in which you hold a cane, but for me it is like eyes. It is not clear whether they are helping you or showing aggression.

You need to have special skills to teach the blind to cross the road, climb the stairs, sit in a chair at the doctor’s office, ride the elevator and other basic skills, emphasized Olesya Seryogina, head of the day care department for the disabled of the Oktyabrsky district of Vitebsk. Therefore, social services and other public organizations of the region actively conduct special training for employees to interact with people with visual impairments who need help.