When you walk with a cane,how do you go up/down the stairs?What side do you use when you walk with a cane?
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For stairs..It will depend on what side the railing is on...then the cane goes in the opposite hand (where the railing is not). If no railing exsists, or if railing exists on both sides, the cane goes in the hand opposite of the weak side (see below). The patient will usually ascend with the stronger leg first, then bring up the cane and the affected leg. When descending the stairs, the cane or the cane and the affected extremity go down first, then the unaffected leg.
This is what most people will need to do, but there are certain instances when this is not ideal such as when someone has poor proprioception in the affected leg (therefore, should not lead with it on the way down)...a very simple mnemonic is "go to heaven (up) with the good foot first, go to H*ll (down) with the "bad" leg and cane first.
It is a common mistake that people say that the cane goes on the weak side...this is usually NOT true. When walking on level surfaces, the cane will go in the hand opposite of the affected extremity...this is to increase base of support while bearing weight on the affected leg.
We could also get into step to and step through patterns...but that seems beyond the scope of this question.
These are not hard and fast rules...there will always be situtations that negate these rules.
Then use the cane in the opposite side, it acts to balance you out...or at least thats what I did when I broke my foot.
you want to use the weakest side with the cane. Use the stronger side to balance yourself againist the railing. That way if you slip, you can balance out with your stonger side.
Use the cane on the weak side and just use it for support and stability and when going up stairs if you are able start with your weak side.
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