Holding a green bamboo stick in hand, I travel thousands of miles

According to the latest statistical report, my country is the world's largest country for stroke, and the trend is showing a younger trend, with one person suffering from the disease every 12 seconds. Stroke is also the leading cause of disability among adults in my country, among which walking disorder is the most common motor dysfunction after stroke.

Walking is a process of alternating steps supported by the legs, with the body moving forward steadily while constantly breaking the old balance and maintaining the new balance.

A stroke causes paralysis on one side of the body, known as hemiplegia, which weakens the supporting strength of the legs. The patient needs to use tools to assist in support and expand the supporting area of ​​the sole of the foot to maintain body balance, achieve the purpose of safe walking, and extend the radius of life.

For patients who have good arm strength and can walk a few steps but cannot walk steadily or for long distances, a cane is undoubtedly a good choice! It is light and portable, and the handle on the cane allows the weight to be transferred through the wrist and forearm. The small body can actually bear 20%-25% of the body weight, acting as a "third leg" when walking!

Cane classification

Cane selection

Height: Try to turn your legs. You can feel a point on the outside of the thigh root that pushes your hand. This point is the greater trochanter. The distance from the point to the ground is the appropriate height of the cane. If it is too high, it will increase the burden on the upper limbs and make it difficult to grasp; if it is too low, the elbow joint will be fully extended, which will increase the load on the waist.

Position: Draw a 15cm long square forward and outward on the outside of the little toe, with the diagonal line being the appropriate position for the cane.

Angle: When holding the handle of the cane, it is more comfortable to bend the elbow joint about 30° and press the wrist down (i.e., extend the back) about 25°.

How to use

Use crutches on the healthy side: Use the healthy hand to use crutches, because it is stronger than the hemiplegic side, and people do not walk with the same hand and foot. They swing their right hand when they step with their left leg, and swing their left hand when they step with their right leg. When the affected leg moves forward, the healthy hand supports the crutches, which conforms to this natural swing. At the same time, the cane is used as an extension of the arm, allowing the healthy hand to bear the body weight, effectively reducing the support burden of the affected leg. Therefore, when walking with crutches, transfer the body's center of gravity to the healthy leg and use the arm to support the body.

Walking method: There are two methods to choose from.

① Three-point step: Most hemiplegic patients use this method. The order of walking is to extend the cane, then step out the affected foot, then step out the good foot, and so on.

② Two-point step: This method is faster than the three-point step and is suitable for people with better function. The order is to extend the cane and the affected foot at the same time, then step out the good foot, and so on.

There are many canes of various materials and shapes on the market, as well as many smart cane products. For patients with hemiplegia, we recommend purchasing canes made of metal, with adjustable height and easy-to-grip handles, emphasizing safety and functional practicality, and then considering aesthetics.