It feels like it happens overnight. Suddenly, your back or your leg hurts, or maybe your balance is off. Or perhaps the evil arthritis starts to make walking painful — and then you find yourself at the drugstore to buy a cane.
According to the Archives of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation, most people don't get medical advice on the device they need to help relieve pain. This may be a mistake, since different devices serve different needs.
But if you prefer a cane, be sure you are using it properly.
Canes mainly help improve balance and relieve pain in an injured or painful legs. To do this effectively, they need to be adjusted properly.
Here is how to adjust a single-end cane:
* Stand straight and rest the cane next to your leg. Relax your arm so that hangs next to the cane. The handle of the cane should line up with where your wrist bends.
* Hold the cane slightly in front of your body and a little to the side. If the cane is adjusted to the right height, your arm will bend slightly.
You can get four-pronged tips to increase balance, or even metal tips that improve balance on ice.
