Using Supportive Aids: Understanding When to Employ Walkers and Canes
Crutches, canes, and walkers: Which one's for you? As we age or deal with mobility issues, these assistive devices can be lifesavers. But which one best suits your specific needs?
Let's dive into the differences between canes and walkers, when to use each, and how to choose the best option for your unique situation.
Certain health conditions can pop up as we get older that make moving around challenging. Did you know that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults experience falls each year, and these falls can lead to serious injuries to muscles and bones, especially in older ages?
Thankfully, there's help to maintain independence and minimize fall risks. Different kinds of assistive mobility devices are available. Wheelchairs are most appropriate for people with no or limited mobility, while canes and walkers are suitable for people with some movement.
Canes and walkers add stability during mobility. A cane can help people with minor balance or stability issues, those experiencing weakness in their legs or trunk, or those living with an injury or pain from conditions such as arthritis.
A person typically holds a cane with one hand. Depending on the type, it can have one to four legs. The more legs a cane has and the wider its base, the more stability it offers. Canes can also accommodate ice grips for walking on slippery surfaces.
-helps with balance-adjustable
However, a person who has had a total hip or knee replacement or someone with more significant balance and mobility issues might prefer a walker. Walkers offer greater support and stability. They require the use of both hands to operate.
-for minimal weight bearing only-some have a curved handle that some may find difficult to grasp and cause pain, especially for people with joint or muscle conditions
For comfort, a person can add support for their wrists or arms and, depending on their needs, a number of different accessories, such as wheels or brakes.
-mild balance issues-mild to moderate arthritis of the lower limbs
Types of Canes and Walkers
$10-$40
Standard canes are typically wood or aluminum with a rubber tip and a hook-shaped or flat handle. Canes with three or four legs can stand independently, offering greater stability for users who experience pain on one side. Some multi-legged canes, known as "sit-to-stand" canes, also have a secondary grip, providing extra help for getting up or sitting down.
According to the Arizona Center on Aging, there are three types of walkers:
-offers greater help with balance than a standard cane-can bear more weight-adjustable
- The standard walker has four rubber-tipped legs, which give it more stability but require the person to lift it with each step.
- The two-wheeled walker has front wheels and backsliders, making it easier to maneuver. But, it is less stable and needs more cognitive effort to handle.
- The four-wheeled walker (also called a rollator) allows a person to keep a more natural gait. It has features such as brakes, a seat, and a basket, but it requires more coordination and can be heavier to maneuver.
-heavier-more cumbersome-may be harder to use on stairs
Each walker type has benefits and drawbacks depending on a person's specific needs and abilities.
-one-sided muscle weakness (hemiparesis) or more significant issues with balance
Is it Better to Use a Walker or a Cane?
$15-$40
Both canes and walkers offer mobility support, but their effectiveness depends on a person's specific condition and needs.
Effective use of a cane requires an individual to have sufficient strength to walk with it consistently and securely while maintaining their balance. While a cane can assist with minor balance problems, it requires a person to be able to steady themselves if they begin to slip. They also must be able to coordinate their movement with the cane.
-stable-foldable
Walkers, on the other hand, are more appropriate where a person has a more significant balance impairment. Walkers can distribute the weight evenly across their legs, reducing the risk of falls and providing greater stability.
-no wheels-needs lifting with each step
When using a walker, one typically places the walker one step ahead, moves the injured or painful leg to the middle, and then brings the stronger leg to meet it, taking small, slow steps.
-for conditions that affect the function of muscles or nerves or for fractures
When Should You Switch from a Walker to a Cane or vice versa?
$20-$60
Determining when to switch between a walker and a cane depends on a person's changing needs and their doctor's recommendation:
- Has my or my loved one's balance improved or worsened?
- Has my or my loved one's endurance and strength improved or worsened?
- What does the doctor recommend?
- Is my or my loved one's daily routine more appropriate for a walker or a cane?
-easier to move-may have a seat and basket for comfort
Where Do I Get a Cane or a Walker?
-less stable than standard-not foldable
A person may be able to purchase their preferred mobility aid directly from a supplier. They may also be able to get them from a clinic or hospital, through their insurance company, or from a non-profit organization for older adults or people with disabilities.
-issues affecting the spinal cord, conditions that slow down mobility like heart or lung diseases
What's the Cost of a Cane vs. a Walker?
$35-$100
According to American Family Physician, canes generally cost between $10 and $40. Walkers can be a little pricier, ranging from $20 to $100.
DME and Medicare
Medicare considers walkers and canes as Durable Medical Equipment (DME). A person can rent or buy a cane or walker through Medicare Part B if it is medically necessary and needed for home use, given that a doctor accepting Medicare writes the prescription and the person purchases the device from a Medicare-approved supplier.
Tips for Safe Use of a Cane and a Walker
Regardless of the mobility aid you choose, it's essential to use it safely:
- Ensure the handle is at wrist level with relaxed arms.
- Maintain slightly bent arms while using it.
- Maintain an upright posture without leaning forward.
Cane Safety
- Hold the cane with the hand opposite the injured or painful side.
- Place the cane ahead when walking, step forward with the painful or injured leg, and follow with the other leg.
- When going upstairs, step up using the stronger leg first while holding onto the handrail. When going down, place the cane down first, then the weaker leg, followed by the stronger one.
Walker Safety
- Place the walker one step ahead.
- Move the injured or painful leg to the middle and then bring the stronger leg to meet it, taking small, slow steps.
- When sitting down, back up to the chair, feel for the seat, and lower yourself slowly down. To stand, push up with your arms and grasp the walker's handgrips. Do not use the walker to help stand up, as it may give way. It is generally advisable not to use a walker on stairs or escalators.
- For individuals with minor balance or stability issues, arthritis, or weakness in the legs or trunk, a cane can offer aid.
- those who have undergone total hip or knee replacement, or have more significant balance and mobility issues, might find a walker more beneficial, as it offers greater support and stability.
- According to the Arizona Center on Aging, there are three types of walkers: the standard, two-wheeled, and four-wheeled (rollator), each with its unique benefits and drawbacks based on an individual's specific needs and abilities.
- Both canes and walkers can be obtained from suppliers, clinics, hospitals, insurance companies, or non-profit organizations for older adults or people with disabilities.
- Under Medicare, canes and walkers are considered Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and you can rent or buy them for home use with a doctor's prescription and from a Medicare-approved supplier.
