7.3 Advantages

To go down the stairs with no handrail, the user bearing weight on the unaffected/uninvolved lower limb and the handgrips of the axillary crutches, moves the axillary crutches and the affected/involved lower limb forward down the stairs. The user keeps the foot and the tips of the axillary crutch at the middle of the step, away from the edge to avoid slipping. Are given a prior instruction that they can rest when the need arises as they move down the stairs. For safety reasons, someone (i.e., therapist) can walk in front of the users as they move down the stairs. This person can assist the user into a sitting position if users become fatigued. Going

down the stairs with axillary crutches stay with the affected leg behind.

Cane is also known as walking stick. It is a horizontal bar with a crook or T shape hand grip at one end and the tip (tips) covered by ferrule at the other end (Figure 12). The vertical bar is adjustable to fit the user. The vertical bar is made of different materials such as wood, acrylic, stainless steel, aluminum and iron. Most canes are usually between 25 and 40 inches long. Cane is typically used when minimal stability is needed and can support up to 25% of a user's weight [16].

Standard cane: this is a single point straight cane with a crook or T-shaped

Offset cane: this is similar to the standard cane but the proximal component of the horizontal shaft is offset anteriorly thereby creating a straight offset handle. Quadripod: this is also similar to the standard cane, it however has a broad base of support with four point of support for floor contact. Others can come in form

7. Cane

Prosthesis

7.2 Types

handle.

of a tripod.

Figure 12.

80

Illustration of different types of cane—single point and multiple points.

7.1 Description and components

