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Canes, Walkers and Crutches: Choosing and Adjusting the Right Walking Aid
Cane or walker? Single-point and quad canes, wheeled and frame walkers, crutches, correct height adjustment and safe use techniques.
Contents
Walking aids help people with balance problems, weakness, joint pain or post-operative recovery move safely. A wrongly chosen or adjusted aid can increase fall risk and cause shoulder or back pain, so choose according to need, ideally with a physiotherapist.
| Aid | Support | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-point cane | Light balance support, slight offloading | Mild balance problems, mild one-sided pain |
| Quad cane | Wider base, more balance | One-sided weakness after stroke, moderate balance problems |
| Crutches | Reduce or prevent weight-bearing | Fractures, sprains, temporary post-op use |
| Frame walker | High support, lifted each step | Severe balance problems, early after replacement or fracture |
| Two-wheeled walker | Pushed forward without lifting | Moderate–severe balance problems, some Parkinson's patients |
| Rollator (four wheels) | Brakes, seat, smooth walking | Low endurance needing rests, reasonable balance |
Correct height
Canes and walkers: stand upright in flat shoes with arms relaxed; the handle should be at the wrist crease, with the elbow bent about 15–30° when holding it.
Crutches: leave 2–3 fingers between the top and the armpit, handles at wrist level, and bear weight through the hands, not the armpits, which can damage nerves.
Technique
Cane: hold it in the hand on the stronger side; move the cane and weaker leg together, then step with the stronger leg. Stairs up: stronger leg first ("good goes up"); down: cane and weaker leg first ("bad goes down").
Frame walker: lift it one step forward and place all four feet down, step the weaker leg into the middle, then the stronger leg; do not stand too close or too far.
Rollator: check brakes; always lock them before sitting; take care downhill; never use on stairs.
Safety
Replace worn rubber tips, clear rugs, cables and thresholds, wear closed non-slip shoes, take extra care on wet floors and check that doorways allow the walker through.
See a physiotherapist for frequent stumbling or falls, shoulder, wrist or back pain, uncertainty about the right aid, or first use after surgery or stroke.
We supply canes, walkers, rollators and crutches across Yalova with height adjustment and training at home by our physiotherapists, and deliver to Bursa, Istanbul and Kocaeli–Gebze.
