Aid for mobility: Distinguishing between walkers and canes and knowing the right time to use each one.
Struggling with mobility? Don't despair, friends! Walkers and canes can help you maintain your independence and keep falling accidents at bay as you age. The decision between a cane versus a walker depends on the degree of support you require, your lifestyle, and your wallet.
Common conditions such as arthritis or falling incidents can make moving around more challenging. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that falls among the elderly can result in serious injuries to muscles and bones. Let's discuss the differences between canes and walkers, when to use them, and how to make the best choice.
Here is a simple chart to help you understand the basic pros and cons, suitable conditions, and costs for each mobility aid:
| Device | Pros | Cons | Conditions | Cost || --- | --- | --- | --- | --- || 1-legged cane | -Helps with balance
-Adjustable
-Lightweight | -For minimal weight bearing only
-Some may find the curved handle uncomfortable | -Mild balance issues
-Mild to moderate arthritis | $10-$40 || 3-4 legged cane | -Greater help with balance
-Can bear more weight
-Adjustable | -Heavier
-More cumbersome
-Harder to use on stairs | -One-sided muscle weakness (hemiparesis)
-More significant issues with balance | $15-$40 || Standard walker | -Stable
-Foldable | -No wheels
-Requires lifting with each step | -Conditions affecting muscles or nerves
-Fractures | $20-$60 || 2-4 wheeled walker | -Easier to move
-May have a seat and basket | -Less stable than standard
-Not foldable | -Issues affecting the spinal cord
-Conditions slowing mobility like heart or lung diseases | $35-$100 |
So, cane or walker: What's the difference?
Canes can support those with minor balance issues, weakness in their legs, or individuals experiencing pain due to conditions like arthritis. Typically, a person holds a cane with one hand, and its stability increases as it has more legs and a wider base. Some canes can even come with ice grippers for extra safety in slippery conditions.
-helps with balance-adjustable
A walker, on the other hand, is more appropriate for those with significant balance and mobility issues, such as those who have had a total knee or hip replacement surgery. Walkers are three-to-four-legged devices that require the use of both hands.
-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 added comfort, users can add wrist or arm supports, and accessories such as wheels or brakes depending on their needs.
-mild balance issues-mild to moderate arthritis of the lower limbs
What types of canes and walkers are available?
$10-$40
Standard canes are often made of wood or aluminum with a rubber tip and a hook-shaped or flat handle. While they provide basic assistance, they may not be ideal for those requiring greater support.
Canes with three or four legs offer more stability for users experiencing pain on one side. Some multi-legged canes, known as "sit-to-stand" canes, also have a secondary grip, offering extra assistance for getting up or sitting down.
-offers greater help with balance than a standard cane-can bear more weight-adjustable
The Arizona Center on Aging lists three main types of walkers:
-heavier-more cumbersome-may be harder to use on stairs
- The standard walker with four rubber-tipped legs provides more stability but requires you to lift it with each step.
- The two-wheeled walker with front wheels and backsliders makes maneuvering easier but is less stable and needs more cognitive effort to handle.
- The four-wheeled walker, also called a rollator, allows users to maintain a more natural gait and features brakes, a seat, and a basket. However, it requires more coordination and can be heavier to maneuver.
-one-sided muscle weakness (hemiparesis) or more significant issues with balance
Ultimately, the right mobility aid for you depends on your specific needs and abilities.
$15-$40
Benefits and drawbacks: Is it better to use a walker or a cane?
Effective cane use requires sufficient strength to walk with it consistently and securely while maintaining balance. However, it requires a person to be able to steady themselves if they begin to slip and must coordinate the cane with their arm while they walk.
-stable-foldable
Walkers are more suitable where a person has a more significant balance impairment. Their stability enables users to shift some or all of their body weight away from their lower body while moving. Using a walker, one can use their arms to help support their body weight, and as their strength and endurance improve, they can transition to placing more weight on their legs.
-no wheels-needs lifting with each step
When should I switch from a walker to a cane or vice versa?
-for conditions that affect the function of muscles or nerves or for fractures
Switching between a walker and a cane involves several factors: Has your balance or strength improved or worsened? What does the doctor recommend? What fits best with your daily activities?
$20-$60
How can I get a cane or a walker?
You can purchase mobility aids directly from suppliers, or through clinics, hospitals, or non-profit organizations for older adults or people with disabilities.
-easier to move-may have a seat and basket for comfort
How much do canes and walkers cost?
-less stable than standard-not foldable
According to American Family Physician, canes generally cost between $10 and $40. Walkers can be a little pricier, ranging from $20 to $100.
-issues affecting the spinal cord, conditions that slow down mobility like heart or lung diseases
Medicare and mobility aids:
$35-$100
Medicare considers walkers and canes as Durable Medical Equipment (DME). You can rent or buy a cane or a walker through Medicare Part B if it is medically necessary and needed for home use, as long as you purchase the device from a Medicare-approved supplier and your doctor writes the prescription.
Safety Tips:
Regardless of which mobility device you choose, it is essential to use it safely. Ensure the handle is at wrist level with relaxed arms and maintain an upright posture. For canes, hold it with the hand opposite the injured or painful side when standing and place it ahead when walking. When using a walker, place it one step ahead and move your injured or painful leg to the middle before bringing your stronger leg to meet it, taking small, slow steps.
- Canes can aid individuals with minor balance issues, weakness in their legs, or those suffering from conditions like arthritis, while walkers are more suitable for those with significant balance and mobility issues, such as those recovering from total knee or hip replacement surgeries.
- For added comfort, cane users can add wrist or arm supports, and accessories like wheels or brakes based on their needs.
- The Arizona Center on Aging identifies three main types of walkers: the standard walker, the two-wheeled walker, and the four-wheeled rollator, each offering varying levels of stability and mobility.
- The decision between a cane and a walker heavily depends on the user's specific needs, abilities, and the recommendations of healthcare professionals.
- Prices for mobility aids like canes and walkers can range from $10 to $100, with some options available from suppliers, clinics, hospitals, or non-profit organizations for older adults or people with disabilities.
- Medicare categorizes walkers and canes as Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and users can rent or buy these devices through Medicare Part B if they are medically necessary, needed for home use, and purchased from a Medicare-approved supplier with a doctor's prescription.
