wormful:

thatsthethingaboutbeingdead:

wormful:

since i just found out you can cause bodily harm to yourself by improperly using a cane, i’ve compiled some tips on how to properly walk with one.

feel free to scroll past, but please know that this is important information for physically disabled people and people with chronic pain to have and that it might be useful for you in the future, if it isn’t presently.

some of the information referencing having an injured leg might not be applicable to you personally. there are many reasons to use mobility aids, and i’ve included references to leg injuries because people with pain or injury in their legs could benefit from the information.

you may find it helpful to use a cane if you have a small problem with balance or instability, some weakness in your leg or trunk, an injury, or pain. if you are disabled, a single point cane may also help you to keep living independently.

before investing in one here are some things to consider:

assess how much help you need and what kind of help you need. canes are the lightest walking aid, and transfer weight to your wrist or forearm. they are generally used to aid light injuries or to improve balance. a cane cannot and should not sustain a large portion of your body weight.

choose your style. canes come in a variety of forms in order to meet the needs of different users. variables to assess include:

• grip:

some canes are meant to be held with your palm and fingers, while others can also provide support for your forearm. whatever you select, make sure the grip feels solid and manageable, not slippery or too big.

• shaft:

the shaft is the long part of the cane, and can be composed of wood, metal, carbon fiber polymer and other materials. some shafts are collapsible for easy portability.

• ferrule:

the tip or bottom of the cane is usually covered in rubber to provide better stability. some canes have three or four ferrules at the bottom instead of just one; this enables them to carry more weight.

• colour:

although many canes are plain or unadorned, you don’t have to settle for a pedestrian grey cane if you don’t want to. you may even be able to find a customizable cane that matches your personality as much as it supports your frame.

• length:

cane length is usually about one half the cane user’s height, in inches, wearing shoes. use this as a rule of thumb.
if your cane is too small, you’ll need to bend over in order to reach it. if your cane is too big, you’ll need to lean over onto your injured side in order to use it. neither option is ideal. a perfectly fitted cane will keep you upright while providing support.

• proper positioning:

the top of your cane should reach to the crease in your wrist when you stand up straight. your elbow should bend a bit when you hold your cane. hold the cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support.

• walking:

when you walk, the cane and your injured leg swing and strike the ground at the same time. to start, position your cane about one small stride ahead and step off on your injured leg. finish the step with your normal leg.

• stairs:

to climb up stairs, grasp the handrail (if possible) and step up on your good leg first, with your cane in the hand opposite the injured leg. then step up on the injured leg.

to come down stairs, put your cane on the step first, then your injured leg, and finally the good leg, which carries your body weight.

As a note as a cane user though…. sometimes it is called for to hold your cane on the ‘bad side’.

As a young cane user I’m already hella conscious of the fact that people think I’m faking it and individuals tend to hit this conclusion even more when I switch sides I use my cane on.

But at the end of the day- when standing still, at least for me- if I’m needing to lean on the cane? it HAS to be on my bad side. Sometimes I walk this way too, but can really only maintain it if I’m making small steps.

and just- to stress it.

make sure your cane is the right size.

make sure your cane is the right size

/especially if it’s nonadjustable/ (my cane is wood and I had to have someone shave off the bottom portion for me.)

if not you will hurt yourself.

Make sure the grip is something you can tolerate. I’ve found the more I have to use mine- the more mine annoys the ever loving out of me, so I slip my hand further down and grasp the shaft instead which means I’m out of balance. 

also don’t be a hipster and get a wooden cane for your first cane oh my god it was the worst decision of my life.

thank u for the helpful addition to this post! and yeah, collapsible/folding metal canes seem like the best option for a starter cane from what i’ve heard from other people who use canes.

i’m going to hunt one down from an irl shop so i can see how it feels height-wise and on the grip. i would recommend others shopping for canes also go to an irl shop if possible, because it’s much easier to get an idea of how it feels for you by walking with it, putting ur weight on it, etc