How do you use a cane or crutches properly?
by , March 19, 2012
Have you ever seen an episode of “House” on TV? The main character uses a cane often because of a painful leg but, he holds the cane on the same side as that painful leg. His character does it to be cantankerous and it’s NOT the right way!
When a foot or leg is unable to bear weight fully and we need assistance from a cane or crutch the opposite hand should be utilizing that device. When you step forward with the affected leg, support for that leg should come from the opposite arm. Watch anyone walk any distance and you will notice how the upper body rotates to swing the opposite arm forward as a leg advances. This is called “cross pattern walking.” Walking by moving the same side arm and leg forward makes us look robotic and strange! Keep that same, natural cross pattern of movement happening even while you are getting help from a cane or crutch. Your balance will be better and you’ll feel much more stable.
I have a lot of patients that always question me why they have to use their unaffected side to use the cane. I always say try it first and see the difference before explaining to them the reason why. As to the “house”, they need to have a physical therapist consultant on that show to correct him…