WEBVTT 00:00:00.430 --> 00:00:03.290 Did you know that most people use their cane 00:00:03.290 --> 00:00:06.230 the wrong way, and they don't even know it? I 00:00:06.230 --> 00:00:08.490 know it sounds like I'm being a little dramatic, 00:00:08.830 --> 00:00:11.929 but using a cane incorrectly can actually make 00:00:11.929 --> 00:00:15.029 balance worse, increase fall risk, and strain 00:00:15.029 --> 00:00:17.600 your joints. Today, I'm going to teach you the 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:20.620 simple steps to use a cane the right way so you 00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:23.620 feel steadier, safer, and more confident every 00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:26.280 time you walk. You'll learn which hand to hold 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:29.079 it in, how to match your steps, and a few tricks 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:31.879 that make a cane work for you instead of against 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.320 you. And just so you know where this guidance 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.560 comes from, we at Senior Safety Advice have the 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:40.439 training and experience to help seniors and family 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:43.340 caregivers stay safe in the homes they love. 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:47.960 All right, let's dive in. So let's talk about 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:50.179 something that we see all the time when we work 00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:52.740 with older adults, and that is a cane that's 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:55.560 being used as a decoration instead of support. 00:00:56.060 --> 00:00:58.679 I'm sure you know what I mean. Either the cane 00:00:58.679 --> 00:01:01.700 is too short, too long, held in the wrong hand, 00:01:01.780 --> 00:01:04.280 or used more like a poke stick than a balance 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:07.439 tool. So let me break this down in a way that's 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:11.519 simple, quick, and easy to remember. First, the 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:14.659 cane goes in the opposite hand of your weaker 00:01:14.659 --> 00:01:18.140 leg. I know that sounds backwards. People think, 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:21.359 well, my right knee hurts, I should put the cane 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:25.200 in my right hand. But that actually makes walking 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.120 harder. When the cane is in the opposite hand, 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.680 it reduces the pressure on the weak side and 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:33.680 gives you much better balance. If your right 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:36.540 knee is the problem, the cane belongs in your 00:01:36.540 --> 00:01:40.120 left hand. If your left hip is weak, the cane 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:43.859 goes in your right hand. This one simple switch 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:47.579 makes a huge difference. So let's move on to 00:01:47.579 --> 00:01:50.780 how to walk with a cane. A lot of people take 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:53.519 a step with the cane after they move the weak 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:56.640 leg, but that throws off your rhythm. Instead, 00:01:56.680 --> 00:01:59.819 you want to move the cane at the same time as 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:03.640 your weaker leg. So the pattern looks like this. 00:02:03.900 --> 00:02:08.819 Cane plus weak leg, then move strong leg. Cane 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:12.219 plus weak leg, then move strong leg. Just keep 00:02:12.219 --> 00:02:15.460 repeating that pattern. It creates a smooth and 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:17.800 natural movement that supports your body weight 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:21.099 at the exact moment you need it. Now another 00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:24.060 huge issue is cane height. A cane that's too 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:27.360 short makes you lean and twist. If it's too tall, 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:30.340 your arm ends up stiff and uncomfortable. So 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:33.180 here's an easy way to check the height. Stand 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:36.599 tall, let your arm relax by your side, and look 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:40.849 at where your wrist crease is. That's the height 00:02:40.849 --> 00:02:43.569 your cane handle should reach. And when you hold 00:02:43.569 --> 00:02:46.210 the cane, your elbow should bend just slightly, 00:02:46.569 --> 00:02:50.090 around 15 to 20 degrees. Nothing fancy, just 00:02:50.090 --> 00:02:54.389 a small bend. Now let's talk about stairs, because 00:02:54.389 --> 00:02:57.370 this is where a lot of people get nervous. There's 00:02:57.370 --> 00:03:00.270 a little phrase that therapists use that make 00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:04.009 going up and down stairs simpler. Up with the 00:03:04.009 --> 00:03:07.969 good, down with the bad. So what that means is, 00:03:08.169 --> 00:03:11.430 going up the stairs with the good, you want to 00:03:11.430 --> 00:03:14.449 step with your stronger leg, the good one, first, 00:03:14.849 --> 00:03:17.729 and then follow with the cane plus the weaker 00:03:17.729 --> 00:03:21.009 leg. When you're going down the stairs, going 00:03:21.009 --> 00:03:24.629 down with the bad, the cane goes first, then 00:03:24.629 --> 00:03:28.710 the weaker leg, and then the stronger leg. Always 00:03:28.710 --> 00:03:31.250 use handrails if they're available. That gives 00:03:31.250 --> 00:03:33.889 you two points of support and it's much safer. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.759 Now if you're wondering, I wonder, I don't know 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.500 if my cane is still right for me, here's a few 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:43.580 signs that it's worth getting it checked. If 00:03:43.580 --> 00:03:46.900 you feel unsteady, if you lean heavily on the 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:50.300 cane, if the cane feels awkward or tiring to 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:53.479 use, if you're moving slower instead of more 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:56.860 smoothly, and if you drag the cane rather than 00:03:56.860 --> 00:04:00.460 placing it. Sometimes a walker or a rollator 00:04:00.460 --> 00:04:03.560 is a better fit, but often just adjusting the 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:06.039 height or switching hands changes everything. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:10.139 Another mistake I see is people using old wooden 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:12.740 canes that just aren't adjustable. Yes, they 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:15.560 look charming, but they can't be customized to 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:18.839 your body. And bodies change. Strength changes. 00:04:19.100 --> 00:04:22.459 Pain levels change. A cane that fit you 10 years 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:26.319 ago may not fit you today. For many people, an 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:29.040 adjustable aluminum cane with a comfortable grip 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.379 is the safest option. And while we're here, let 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:35.519 me add this. It is completely normal to feel 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.779 hesitant or embarrassed about using a cane. I 00:04:38.779 --> 00:04:41.660 hear about this all the time, but canes are tools 00:04:41.660 --> 00:04:44.680 of strength, not weakness. They help you stay 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.319 active and independent and on your feet, which 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:50.300 is something to be proud of. If you're helping 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:52.579 a parent or a spouse with their cane, here's 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:56.100 one more tip. Let the person practice in a quiet, 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:59.579 open space before walking into a crowded room 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:03.279 or uneven areas. A little practice goes a long 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:06.839 way towards confidence. Using a cane correctly 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:09.439 is one of the fastest ways to reduce your fall 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:12.060 risk, and the more confident someone feels with 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:15.000 their care, the safer their entire home becomes. 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:18.550 So thanks for joining me today. Please share 00:05:18.550 --> 00:05:20.709 this episode with someone you care about who 00:05:20.709 --> 00:05:22.769 could use the information to make their life 00:05:22.769 --> 00:05:25.810 safer. You'll find more resources for seniors 00:05:25.810 --> 00:05:28.949 and caregivers on our website at seniorsafetyadvice 00:05:28.949 --> 00:05:31.930 .com. And if you're searching for an Aging in 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:34.750 Place Specialist, please visit our sister website 00:05:34.750 --> 00:05:38.589 at aginginplacedirectory .com. Then come back 00:05:38.589 --> 00:05:40.850 tomorrow for another Daily Moment of guidance 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:43.730 and encouragement, right here on the Senior Safety 00:05:43.730 --> 00:05:47.230 Advice Podcast. Oh, and before I forget, if you 00:05:47.230 --> 00:05:49.370 haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel or 00:05:49.370 --> 00:05:52.250 to this podcast yet, go ahead and do that right 00:05:52.250 --> 00:05:56.029 now. Until next time, thanks for listening, take 00:05:56.029 --> 00:05:57.290 care, bye!