A note on doctor`s orders: If your doctor, occupational or physical therapist has recommended that you use a cane, you can be sure that he/she has very important reasons for making that recommendation!

Well, the answer can very since there are a number of different reasons why a person may benefit from using a cane on a temporary, or a regular basis. For example, you may benefit from using a cane temporarily if you are recovering from a recent accident, injury or surgery, while you may benefit from using a cane more regularly due to age, or if you have arthritis, a disability, or other long-term mobility related issues.
Even so, people often want to postpone or avoid using a cane thinking they can “make do” without one. But, when you consider the many benefits of using a cane, it is clear that using one is the smartest and healthiest choice both short, and long term.

If you are trying to determine if you need a cane, ask yourself the following questions:
Do you freely and easily walk on a daily basis?
Can you walk without pain on a daily basis?
Are you ever afraid of injuring yourself or falling while walking?
Do you ever have trouble with balance or stability while walking?
Do you sometimes find yourself holding on to furniture or countertops for support as you walk around your home?
Is walking up or down a set of stairs challenging?
Do you move around less than you would like due to any of the above concerns?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could benefit greatly from using a cane on a temporary, or even a regular basis.

Here are just a few ways using a cane will help you:
A cane could help you walk more normally while taking weight off of a sore, injured or weaker foot, ankle, knee or hip.
Using a cane can help prevent a needless injury due to a fall or strain that could lengthen your recovery time if you`re healing. Just ask Brad Pitt who used a cane when recovering from an ACL injury!
Even if you do not feel pain while walking, a cane may be beneficial. If you are favoring one foot, leg, or knee, a cane could help you support your weight. It may also help avoid straining other parts of the body, like your arm, shoulder or back, that would have to compensate for a shift in your weight.
Using a cane supports your efforts to stay mobile, active and independent.
You could use a cane for support while walking up or down stairs.
The use of a cane not could help reduce your pain. It could also help you walk with more confidence and maintain your balance.
Using a cane can even delay the need for surgery by keeping some chronic issues, like osteoarthritis, from getting worse by reducing stress on the affected joints.
For all of these reasons, and many more, using a cane could be one of the smartest choices you will ever make!
We hope this article helps you answer the question, “Do I need a cane?”. Please let us know if you have questions.

Finally, when you shop for a cane for yourself, a friend or family member, be sure to check out the Handy Cane, the award winning walking aid with a built-in reaching grabber. The Handy Cane provides all of the benefits of a traditional cane, but also enables you to pick up items as small as a dropped coin, keys or mobile phone, and as large as a jar, can or bottle that may be out of reach. So, even if you use the Handy Cane temporarily as a walking aid, you will have the highest quality, versatile reaching grabber for every day use. Take a look!