Patient/caregiver was educated on how to hold walking offset cane 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 during ambulation, but unable to hold the standard cane with a firm grip due to coexisting wrist problems.
- Offset canes provide the needed support during ambulation, in individuals with compromised balance and help the user distribute the body weight better over the shaft of the cane, thus enhancing safety and comfort.
- Compromised balance can be secondary to weakness, injury, surgery, involving lower extremities and weight bearing joints.
- Offset 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 offset cane. In this case, offset cane is used to complement an injured or weak leg and take some weight off of injured or weak leg. So, offset cane must be held in the hand opposite of the weak leg.
- Firm grip on the offset 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 offset 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 offset 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. Offset canes with large handles, padded or foam handles can offer better grip for such individuals.
