What is the proper height for a cane?
An estimate of the proper cane length can be made by dividing an individual's height by two. For most persons, the right sized cane is within one inch of half their height.
How to measure for the proper length:
- Put on the user's walking shoes
- Have the user stand naturally upright as much as possible
- Have their arms fall to the sides naturally with a normal relaxed bend at the elbow
- Measure the distance from their wrist joint (bottom crease at the wrist) down to the floor. Round up to the nearest half inch.
For accurate length, we suggest a second person do the measuring.
Measure the lowest part on the top of the handle to the bottom of the rubber tip. Round up to the nearest half inch.
How to walk with a Cane / Walking Stick:
Canes are not intended to be used like a crutch for full weight bearing. It's important you match your cane to your body type.
An important consideration in choosing a cane is to match the cane with the user's body size, so that the cane becomes the key to better mobility and safety for the user. Canes are not designed to substitute for bearing all the weight you normally would on your legs, such as crutches but to provide you with an extra foot on the ground for balance. The cane adds a third point of ground contact that alters the bio mechanics of walking to affect balance, relieve painful joints and provide stability to the user.
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Grip the cane in hand on your "strong" side so it provides support to the opposite lower limb.
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Take a step with the "weak" leg and move the cane forward at the same time.
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Lean your weight through the arm gripping the cane as needed.
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Ensure the weak leg leg assumes the first step, which holds the most weight, on level surfaces
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The walking cane should be moved around 1 1/2 feet forward with each move.
Canes are intended to help with a users balance. A cane size is designed to be proportionate to a cane users body size. The cane's shaft size, handle size and construction are factors in determining a cane users size.