Patient/caregiver was educated on measures to choose/adjust the offset cane to appropriate height, grip, and base support as follows:
- Offset canes are canes with the handle in a “J”-shape. They are mostly recommended for individuals with compromised balance and needing a cane for support, but unable to hold the standard cane with a firm grip due to coexisting wrist problems. Offset canes help an individual distribute the body weight better over the shaft of the cane, thus enhancing safety and comfort.
- Adjusting the offset cane to proper height enhances the ease of use and promotes safety.
- To adjust the offset cane to appropriate height, stand upright against a wall wearing your regular walking shoes, with hands falling on the sides freely.
- Take the measurement from the floor to the wrist of the hand you plan to hold the offset cane with.
- Alternatively, you can choose to stand upright against a wall wearing your regular walking shoes, with hands falling on the sides freely.
- You can choose an offset cane or adjust the height of offset cane such that the top of the offset cane should be level with the wrist of hand you plan to hold the offset cane. Another measure could be the top of the offset cane level with the hip bone on the side.
- This number plus or minus an inch is the about height of the offset cane you will be comfortable with. So, using a offset cane with adjustable height is advantageous, as it can allow some room to play around.
- Standing upright, holding a offset cane of appropriate height in your hand with the offset cane parallel to your legs, your elbow should make an angle of about 15 – 20 degrees.
- Handles of various contours, such as, ribbed handles, padded or foam handles can be fixed on the offset cane to enhance the grip in individuals with limitations.
- Offset canes also come with detachable bases and a broad base with four legs could be fixed on the regular offset cane, thus converting it into a quad cane. With bigger base and four legs, quad canes offer more support for individuals with compromised balance and needing more support than a what a regular offset cane offers.
