Do you use a walking stick on your good or bad side

Canes can be used for many conditions, including injuries, arthritis, problems with balance, and after a surgery. A cane can help steady your gait and take pressure off of an injured leg or hip. Yet, if you're not using it properly, you will not feel its full benefits while walking.

One of the most common questions people ask of their physical therapist is which hand should hold the cane. It may surprise you to know that it's probably not the one you think it should be.

Which Hand Should Hold the Cane?

When using a cane, you should hold it in the hand opposite of the leg that needs support. This is far more efficient and helpful than holding it on your weak or injured side. Also, as you walk, you will move the cane at the same time as your weaker leg.

Think of it this way: Hold the cane on your strong side and move it along with your weak side.

For example, if you have an injured right knee, hold the cane with your left hand. When you place your right leg out, swing the cane out with the leg. When placing pressure on the right leg, also place pressure on the cane with the left hand.

This method always gives you one steady brace while walking and relieves pressure by relying on your strong side. This, in turn, reduces pain.

Give it a try. Take a few steps around the house to see if you notice the difference. If you were struggling with balance before, this small change should help out considerably and feel much safer.

More Tips

Canes are such simple devices that it seems like you can just pick one up and start walking, right? It's true that canes are easy-to-use walking aids, but there are a few tips that will help you get along a little better.

Sizing

It's important that your cane is properly sized. Most canes can be easily adjusted to match your needs. The cane is generally sized so the handle is at the level of your wrist when your arm rests at your side. This way, your elbow is slightly bent as you hold the cane while standing.

Stairs

When climbing stairs, let your good leg lead. Once that is firmly planted on the higher step, follow with your cane and weaker leg. The exact opposite is true when going down stairs—then you should lead with the injured leg.

Those two tips should give you a good start for properly using your cane. To get the maximum benefit, it's a good idea to learn about common mistakes people make with canes so you can avoid them. Of course, if you have concerns or questions, speak with your physical therapist or doctor.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus. Using a cane.

Additional Reading

• Larson H. How to choose the right cane. Arthritis Foundation.

By Jonathan Cluett, MD
Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams.

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If you are having difficulties with your mobility resulting from knee surgery, injury, or other condition, you might have considered using a cane. When used safely and correctly, a cane is a perfect companion in providing stability and balance to people who require additional control and flexibility while walking. They can go a long way towards reducing pain and providing support and balance to those who need them. However, while they undoubtedly have many benefits, new users are often left wondering: How do I use a cane properly?

In short, to use a cane properly, you should first hold the cane on the side of your “good” leg (the opposite leg to the one that needs support). Then, when walking on level ground, you should move the cane forward in unison with your “bad” leg, placing weight on it as necessary.

When correctly used, the right cane can greatly improve your steadiness and reduce your likelihood of falling. It does this by widening your base of support and easing the pressure placed on your lower-body.

Of course, the above-outlined answer is only the short one, so here’s a detailed guide on how to use a cane properly to maintain balance while walking:

• Select the Correct Cane for Your Needs
  • Type of Cane
  • Length of the Cane
• Using Your Walking Cane Properly
  • When Walking On Level Surfaces
  • When Walking Up Stairs
• Which Side Do You Use a Cane On?
• Mistakes to Avoid When Using A Cane

Select the Correct Cane for Your Needs

Any cane you use should match your needs and fit you correctly. Therefore, before you begin to search for a cane, it’s essential to determine how much assistance you’ll need from it, and even whether you need a cane at all. If you do need a cane specifically for stability, you might want to choose a quad cane, whereas for general support a single point cane might be a better option.

Generally, selecting the cane that best suits your needs is dependent on two factors:

Type of Cane

There are many different types and styles of walking canes available on the market to help remedy your functional mobility problems. These include quad canes, forearm canes, and adjustable canes. The features to consider when choosing the right kind of cane include:

Grip

While selecting a grip depends on personal preferences, consider choosing a grip that’s shaped to fit your hand. A good grip will help you relieve unnecessary stress and avoid joint pain.

Shaft

The shaft is the long and central body of the cane. You want a shaft that is sturdy and reliable. While some shafts are foldable, they are often less robust, so this is something to look out for.

Ferrule.

The ferrule is the cap, often made from rubber, that covers the tip of a cane to ensure stability and support while walking and prevent slipping. You want to ensure the ferrule of your cane is suitable for the surfaces you intend to use it on. It’s also worth noting that some canes come with a single ferrule while others can have up to four (i.e., a quad cane/4-prong-cane).

Length of the Cane

To ensure safety and mobility, you want a cane that will let you walk freely without having to lean or bend your body. In effect – your cane’s length needs to be suitable for your height. While the perfect height will differ from person to person, the typical suggested length of a cane is about half the height of the user.

Here is how to properly fit your cane:

1. Wear regular walking shoes and stand upright.
2. Relax your arms and bend your elbow at a comfortable angle of around 15-25 degrees. If you intend to use your cane primarily for balance, consider bending your elbow slightly more for extra stability.
3. Measure the distance from your wrist joint to the ground. This distance should be around the length of your cane.

Thankfully, most modern canes are adjustable and let you set the preferred length of the cane to meet your specific needs – but always check the product descriptions before assuming this!

Using Your Walking Cane Properly

After choosing the cane that matches your needs, it’s important to learn how to use the cane correctly while walking. Before using their cane for the first time, most users expect it to be simple – but in reality, it isn’t as simple as you’d expect:

You should generally hold your cane on the opposite side of your injury, besides your “good” leg, so as to provide enough support to the injured leg. This will ensure you have adequate support and balance your “bad” leg when stepping forward.

Whilst we explain below the best way to use a cane properly, this is a topic that might be better explained by the video. We attach the following video by physical therapists Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck for your reference:

When Walking On Level Surfaces

• When walking on level surfaces, move the cane while taking a step forward with your weak or injured leg simultaneously. Every time you take a step with your “good” leg, keep your cane in place.
• While doing this, always place most of your weight on the “good” side of your body. This will ensure your injured limb has as much support as possible.
• Please note that you should always use your “good” leg for your first full-weight step and then move the cane about a steps-distance while taking a step with your “bad” leg.

When Walking Up Stairs

• When using your cane to ascend stairs, place one hand on the handrail (if available) and keep your cane in your other hand.
• Holding onto the rail, advance one step forward with the “good” leg and then move your injured leg up to the same step.
• If there is no handrail on the stairs, advance one step forward with your “good” leg, then place the cane on the same step while moving your bad leg forwards.

Which Side Do You Use a Cane On?

You should generally use a cane on the opposite side to your injured leg or knee. The reason you should use a cane on the opposite side of the injury is that it is more efficient and reduces discomfort. Using a cane in this way allows you to maintain stability when walking and relieves stress from your injured side.

Mistakes to Avoid When Using A Cane

When using a cane to assist with walking, there are some common mistakes that people make. It’s important to avoid these because instead of improving your condition, they might complicate it:

• Don’t use a cane that is not ideal for your height.
• Don’t hold a cane with the wrong hand while walking; you should always hold a cane on the opposite side to the injury. 
• Don’t place your cane too far ahead while walking; this may cause you to stretch unnecessarily.
• Don’t use a cane excessively, this may lead to hand or should pain.
• Don’t use a cane if you don’t need one, a walking stick might be a better alternative.

With all these considerations in mind, we are sure your experience using a cane should be smooth and without issue. Whether a short-term injury or a long-term condition, we know that using a cane correctly is a great way to alleviate functional mobility issues.

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