You bought a cane to help you walk. But if you hold it in the wrong hand, you might actually limp more.
Most people instinctively hold the cane on their injured side. This seems logical, but it is wrong. It throws off your balance.
The Golden Rule: Always hold the cane in the hand opposite your weak or injured leg.
Table Of Contents
- 1 The Golden Rule: Opposite the Injury
- 2 Why Not the Same Side? (The Science)
- 3 Scenario Guide: Which Hand Do I Use?
- 4 How to Walk Correctly (The Rhythm)
- 5 Handle Stairs Safely
- 6 Choose a Cane With a Comfortable Grip
- 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 9 Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
The Golden Rule: Opposite the Injury
Do not overthink this. Just memorize the “Opposite Rule.”
- Bad Right Leg? → Hold the cane in your Left Hand.
- Bad Left Leg? → Hold the cane in your Right Hand.
If it’s too tall or short, the hand rule won’t help. Check our guide: Walking Cane Height: How to Measure for the Perfect Fit.
Why? This mimics your natural body mechanics. When you step with your left foot, your right arm swings forward naturally. Holding the cane in the opposite hand supports this motion.
Why Not the Same Side? (The Science)
It feels strange at first. You want to “guard” your bad leg by holding the cane next to it. But here is why that fails.
If you hold the cane on the same side as your injury, you lean all your weight onto that side. You end up waddling like a duck. This puts stress on your hip joint.
Learn the proper walking technique here: How to Walk With a Cane for Balance: A Simple Guide to Stability.
If you hold it on the opposite side, you create a wide triangle of support. When you step on your bad leg, you push down on the cane with your opposite hand. This offloads up to 25% of your body weight from the bad knee or hip.
Best Offset Handle Canes for Balance
Scenario Guide: Which Hand Do I Use?
Life isn’t always simple. Sometimes both legs hurt, or neither leg hurts. Use this guide to decide.
- One Bad Knee/Hip: Use the Opposite Hand.
- Both Legs Hurt: Use the hand that feels most dominant. Switch hands every 15 minutes to avoid wrist strain.
- Just for Balance (No Pain): Hold the cane in your dominant hand. This gives you the best control.
How to Walk Correctly (The Rhythm)
Now you have the cane in the correct hand. Let’s get moving.
The 3-Step Pattern:
- Cane + Bad Leg: Move the cane and your weak leg forward at the same time.
- Plant: Touch the tip to the ground firmly.
- Good Leg: Step through with your strong leg.
Handle Stairs Safely
Stairs are dangerous. Gravity works against you. Memorize this phrase: “Up with the Good, Down with the Bad.”
Going Up Stairs:
- Step up with your Good Leg first.
- Bring the Cane and your Bad Leg up to the same step.
Going Down Stairs:
- Put the Cane down on the lower step first.
- Step down with your Bad Leg.
- Bring your Good Leg down last.
Get our complete safety guide: How to Walk on Stairs With a Cane: The Safe & Easy Way.
Choose a Cane With a Comfortable Grip
💡 Pro Tip: Not sure which grip is best for you?
Check our Ultimate Review Guide: Walking Cane with Feet Review: Best Options for Balance & Stability.
Since your hand takes the weight, your grip matters. If your hand hurts, you won’t use the cane properly.
| Best Overall | Best Pivot/Comfort | Best Lightweight |
|---|---|---|
 REHAND Foldable Check Price |
 REHAND Pivot Check Price |
 DMI Aluminum Check Price |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- The “Guard” Instinct: You will instinctively want to move the cane to your bad side. Fight this urge. Trust the opposite side.
- The “Hunch”: Do not look at your feet. Look straight ahead. Looking down ruins your posture.
- The “Reach”: Do not place the cane too far in front of you. Keep it close to your body (about 4 inches to the side).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you use cane on a strong or weak side?
You use the cane on your strong side. This is the hand opposite your weak leg.
What if my dominant hand is on the bad side?
You still use the non-dominant hand. Biomechanics matter more than hand preference. You will get used to it quickly.
Which leg goes first when using a cane?
The cane and the bad leg go first. They move together as a team.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
Using a cane on the opposite side feels weird for the first two days. Your brain will try to fight it. Give it 48 hours.
Tariqul
Tariqul is a dedicated health and wellness blogger with a background in health sciences. With years of experience in patient education and health communication, he focuses on providing accurate, easy-to-understand information to help readers make informed decisions about their well-being. Passionate about bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and everyday life, Tariqu ensures his content is both practical and medically sound.