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How to Step On and Off a Curb with a Cane
May 18, 2021
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. Approach the curb with cane on unaffected side of your body.
- 2. Once at bottom of the curb, lift unaffected leg over curb.
- 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. Approach the curb with cane on unaffected side of your body.
- 2. Step down with affected leg and cane simultaneously.
- 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!
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