Patient/caregiver was educated on how to hold walking cane as follows:
- Cane is an assistive device used to provide more support during ambulation, in individuals with compromised balance.
- Compromised balance can be secondary to weakness, injury, surgery, involving lower extremities and weight bearing joints.
- Cane usually is held in the hand used less frequently, also call non-dominant hand. This can allow the dominant hand to be free and available to perform various tasks, such as, carry a bag or unlock the door.
- In extremely weak individuals, the dominant hand can also be used to hold the side-rails, which can offer extra support and help fall prevention.
- Also, you should consider weakness of the lower extremities, while deciding on the hand used to hold the cane. In this case, cane is used to complement an injured or weak leg and take some weight off of injured or weak leg. So, cane must be held in the hand opposite of the weak leg.
- Firm grip on the cane handle is important to prevent the device slipping out of control and contributing to a fall. Individuals with muscle weakness and weak grips can choose canes with ribbed handles to enhance the grip.
- Individuals with health conditions, such as, arthritis and gout, involving small joints of the hands, can have poor grip on the handle of the cane. The inflammation in the small joints of the hands limits the range of motion of the fingers and prevents the individual to form a firm grip. Canes with large handles, padded or foam handles can offer better grip for such individuals.
