Everyone may need to use additional walking aids. This may be necessary after an injury to the lower extremities, with diseases of the joints, impaired coordination of movements. In mild cases of such pathologies, when a person has preserved walking functions, but he needs support, a support cane is used. Previously, such a device was more common. The cane was a symbol of prestige and respectability, but now with a stick you can see mostly the elderly or the disabled.
General characteristics
The support cane serves as support for the vertical position of a person with impaired function of one of the lower extremities. It helps to avoid falls and injuries when walking. Unlike crutches, a cane does not completely relieve the load on the limbs. The main function of such an orthopedic device is to provide the patient with comfortable movement after operations or injuries, as well as in violation of walking functions for other reasons. The cane in this case becomesadditional support, allowing you to transfer part of the weight of the body from the sore leg.
In addition, such devices are used by the visually impaired. They allow you to avoid falls and injuries, as they are designed to feel the road in front of you. Such canes are usually white, which makes it possible for the driver of a car to see a disabled person on the road from afar. In addition, men's support canes can be attributed to a separate group. Although now they are no longer so common, it used to be fashionable to walk with such a device even for he althy young people.
What a support cane is used for
This orthopedic device is designed to redistribute the load in various pathologies of one limb, as well as to maintain balance. Support canes are used for walking by the elderly, the disabled. For various injuries during the recovery period, they are recommended after crutches.
Indications for the use of a support cane are the following conditions:
- rehabilitation period after a broken bone or dislocation of the leg joints;
- arthrosis, arthritis, osteoporosis of the lower extremities;
- impaired coordination of movements in various vascular or neurological pathologies;
- in old age with general weakness and dysfunction of the limbs;
- after stroke;
- for people with poor eyesight;
- to prevent falls when walking on icy or slippery surfaces.
Varietiescanes
There are many different types of walking support orthotics available on the market today.
- The most common are ordinary wooden sticks. They have a straight shape, a T-handle and a plastic or rubber tip. Most often they are chosen by the elderly, as they are the cheapest.
- The adjustable support cane is very convenient if you need to use it for a long time. After all, the height of this device should be selected taking into account the height of the heels. And in winter and in summer, usually the sole of the shoe is different.
- Telescopic or folding canes are suitable for more active patients. For example, if you often have to travel in a car, public transport. They are easy to fold and store in your bag.
- Reeds with three or four legs are more stable and are good for people with obesity or limb dysfunction.
- Men's support cane may differ from the rest with a bizarre shape, a beautiful curved handle. Such products are most often not intended to support the body, but are used as a symbol of respectability. They are usually heavier, weighing up to 700 grams.
How to choose the right one
Like any orthopedic device, a support cane must be selected individually. There are several criteria for choosing a walking stick. If they are not followed, it will not be able to protect a person from injury, and it can also cause additional problems.
- First of allthe cane must be of the right height. Only then will it be able to fulfill its functions. If the cane is higher than necessary, a large load will fall on the hand, and if the position is too low, the person will have to hunch over.
- An important criterion is also the strength of the material. Wooden canes used to be more popular, but for some patients they are considered heavy. In this case, you can choose a stick made of aluminum, it is light and durable.
- The shape of the handle should be comfortable so that there is no fatigue of the hand.
- It is very important that the weight of the cane does not cause additional problems. Usually it weighs from 100 to 400 grams. Support canes for women should be lighter so that the hand does not get tired.
- For many patients, the appearance of the cane is also decisive when choosing a cane. This is especially true for young people who need to use this device after an injury.
Cane height
The main criterion for choosing a cane should be its length. It is difficult to pick her up without the person who will walk with her. The height of the support cane depends not only on the height of the person. It is also important to consider the length of his arms, as well as whether he hunches when walking.
When choosing a cane, you need to try it on. A person should stand near her, bend his arm at the elbow by 15-20 degrees. In this case, the wrist should lie flat on the handle. If, in order to lean on a cane, a person has to bend down, then it is very low. In this case, it will not perform its functions, creating an additionalstress on the wrist and spine. A cane that is too high causes a person to bend, raising their arm, which is also uncomfortable.
What should be the handle
Its shape is an important criterion for choosing this fixture. And it's not just about beauty, because the handle used to be a decoration of a cane, often being a work of art. But now it is more important that it be comfortable. If the handle is not chosen correctly, pain in the hand and wrist joint may occur.
It is best to choose a cane with an anatomically shaped handle that follows the contours of the palm. For someone, a large handle, voluminous, will be more comfortable, for other people it is more comfortable to lean on if it is small. The main thing is that the brush on it is located freely. Handle shape may vary. In addition to the most common, they can be in the form of a swan neck, beak or hook.
The material from which the handle is made is also important. It should not cause allergies, slip. It is best that the material is pleasant to the touch. Most often, cane handles are made of medical plastic, sometimes wood.
Reed base
Most often such devices have the form of a straight stick. But at the bottom, a tip is required, which increases the strength of the cane and its stability. The shape and material of the tip should be chosen depending on the purpose and time of use of the cane. The most common are tips made of plastic or durable rubber. They don't slip and are lightweight. For walking in ice, you need to choose a cane with a sharptip.
People with impaired walking functions, overweight, as well as after operations and injuries, such devices with an increased number of legs are recommended. There can be 3 or 4 of them. This does not make the cane heavier, but makes it more stable. In addition, the tip can be square or pyramidal.
How to check a cane when buying
In order for this device to perform its functions correctly, you need to buy it in the presence of the person who will use it. This is necessary so that he can "try on" a cane, try to walk with it. How to choose the right cane:
- a person should be in the shoes in which he most often walks;
- if the cane will be used for a long time, and the patient has heels of different heights in winter and summer shoes, it is advisable to purchase two canes;
- when choosing, you need to focus on the purpose of using this device;
- it is important to pay attention to the tip - for people with severely impaired walking functions, it is better to choose a more stable one, for example, a four-support one;
- the cane should be tried on: the patient should stand as he usually walks, slightly bend the arm at the elbow, while the hand should lie comfortably on the handle of the cane, standing straight on the floor.
Canes for the elderly
Many old people cannot move normally due to muscle weakness and the occurrence of various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. It will help them keep their balance and avoid falling.cane. Since such a device is used in this case constantly, you need to choose it more carefully.
It is best to purchase a cane for the elderly with an anti-slip device and a comfortable grip. The old man should like it, although most often they prefer ordinary wooden models. You also need to pay attention to the tip. It should not slip on any surface, if it is rubber, then it should not leave marks on the floor.
Canes for the disabled
These are the so-called tactile canes. They are not intended for support, but to facilitate the spatial orientation of patients with visual loss. They are mainly made of aluminum, since their feature is that the disabled person constantly keeps it on weight, feeling the road and various objects. Such a cane necessarily has a loop on the wrist to prevent loss of the device.
A feature of canes for the visually impaired is their color. Usually they are white, noticeable from afar. In addition, her tip can be of different shapes. In addition to the usual cylindrical or in the form of a pencil, it can be spinning, in the form of a small or large ball.
How to walk with a cane
It is not enough to choose such a device correctly, you also need to learn how to walk with it. There are some rules to help you get used to the cane:
- move carefully, always look under your feet, especially if the floor is carpeted, uneven or steps;
- try not to walk on the wet floor even withcane;
- when moving up the stairs with one hand, be sure to hold on to the railing;
- shoes should be comfortable, with a small heel, and best of all - on a flat sole;
- when moving, the cane should be kept not next to the sore leg, but on the opposite side;
- the stick moves along with the injured leg.
You need to learn how to walk comfortably with a cane. But with the right choice, it helps maintain balance and protects against falls. This is a real salvation for people with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
