How to Step On and Off a Curb with a Cane

Listed below are safety tips and step-by-step approach on how to carefully and properly walk over a curb while using your cane.

Tips for proper cane fit:

• Cane should be placed on the unaffected side (i.e. if left knee is injured, cane should be placed on right side of body)
• Cane should be the correct height for YOU. While arm is resting at side of body, the handle of the cane should come up to the crease of your wrist
• Cane should have a rubber tip to improve traction on various surfaces. The handle of the cane should have a rubber grip for comfort and support
• Remember: up with good (unaffected leg) and down with bad (affected leg)

Stepping onto a curb with cane:

1. 1.  Approach the curb with cane on unaffected side of your body.
2. 2.  Once at bottom of the curb, lift unaffected leg over curb.
3. 3.  Next, shift weight toward unaffected leg on curb while lifting cane and affected leg over curb.

Stepping off of a curb with cane:

1. 1.  Approach the curb with cane on unaffected side of your body.
2. 2.  Step down with affected leg and cane simultaneously.
3. 3.  Next, step down with unaffected leg.

If you need more assistance on how to properly use a cane, call Omaha Physical Therapy Institute today!  We provide pre-operation assistive device fitting and training for maximal safety after your surgery!

Ashlie Eckmann, PT, DPT

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