Proper Cane Fitting

It seems like everybody and their dog has an opinion on how to fit a cane.  If it’s too short, you end up stooping down.  And if it’s too tall, you can’t really use it for support.  You might have heard that a cane should match your pant inseam length.  Wrong.  That doesn’t take into account the fact that some people have short legs, in relation to their arm length.  (and what if you don’t wear pants?!)  Some might tell you to just line it up with your hip bone.  Wrong again.  Some people have long monkey arms, and some have short arms (like my uncle.  We used to call him T-Rex because his arms were so short!)

Here’s an easy guide for making sure your cane is the correct height for you.

• Stand upright, wearing the shoes that you most commonly wear when walking, and let your arm hang in a relaxed position by your side.  In this position, the handle of your cane should come to your wrist joint.  (or you can measure from the floor to your wrist joint)  This will ensure that you have a slight bend in your elbow, when the cane is by your side.  Done.

Many canes are adjustable.  But if you order a fancy wooden cane, you could order it slightly longer than you estimate you will need, and then cut off the end for the proper length.  Be sure and put a rubber tip on the end, and include this in your measurement.