Gait Training with The Professionals at Cape Concierge Physical Therapy
I was walking out the parking lot after my daughters volleyball game, and I see a woman walking into the gym with crutches. She had on an orthopedic shoe on her left foot and she was using one crutch in her left hand to limp up to the school entrance. Now, how many of you think that is the correct way to use a crutch or a cane?
Do you put the crutch on the same side as the injured leg?
If you said yes .... you are WRONG. Too many of use grew up watching House, MD, and now think this is the correct way to walk using a cane or crutch on the same side of injury.
The correct answer is NO.
We always want to use the crutch or cane on the opposite side of the injured leg. We want to divert our weight away from the side of injury.
Despite me wanting to correct the woman in the parking lot, at the request of my teenage daughter, I did not. Apparently, she likes to keep a low profile at her high school. So in response to not correcting that woman's gait pattern, I am supplying the tips below so that we can spread the word on how to walk correctly using crutches or a cane.
Tip #1 - Hold your cane or crutch in the opposite side of the injury.
Handling a cane in the hand opposite our injury, replicates your natural arm movement, giving your upper body the opportunity to absorb some of the weight while you walk.
Tip #2 - Make sure the cane or crutch is at the correct height.
When holding the handle of the cane, it should come to the level of your hip bone on the side of your upper thigh. (See the above picture of Kara McKeown, PT holding the cane at her the height of her hip).
When using a standard crutch, stand tall with your arms by your side. Adjust the length of the crutches so that the top of the crutch is 2-3 finger widths below your armpit. The hand grips should be at your wrist joint.
Tip #3 - Correct gait pattern.
Hold your crutch or cane on the opposite side of your injured leg.
Step forward with your stronger leg
Then move your injured leg forward at same time as your bring your crutch or cane forward.
Use the crutch or cane to support the weight on your injured leg as you move forward.
Check out our video on to get further instructions.
Tip #4 - Walking up stairs with a crutch or cane
If the stairs have a handrail, use it to support yourself while you’re going up:
Balance on your strong leg and hold the handrail for support.
Tuck your crutches under the arm that’s not holding the handrail.
Step up with your strong leg. When I was in PT school, we were taught the expression "Up with the good, down with the bad." It still holds true today.
Then move your injured leg up at same time as your bring your crutch or cane up.
Check out our video on instagram to get further instructions.
Tip #5 - Walking down stairs with a crutch or cane
If the stairs have a handrail, use it to support yourself while you’re going down
Balance on your strong leg and hold the handrail for support.
Hold the crutches or cane in your other hand.
Step down with your crutches and injured leg first.
Then, bring your strong leg down to meet your injured leg.
Practice makes perfect.
Even if you are not currently injured, this is a great skill to practice now so you are prepared for the future. If you are scheduled to have surgery in the future, this is your opportunity to get comfortable using a cane or crutches. My kids like to use crutches around the house, despite my best efforts to hide our crutches, they still find them every time.
If you have a friend or family member that wants to learn how to use an assistive device safely, please send me an email and I can meet with them in person: ashley@capeconciergept.com.
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