*PLEASE NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IN NO WAY REPLACES A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL’S RECOMMENDATION. CANES ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE USED LIKE A CRUTCH FOR FULL WEIGHT SUPPORT; CANES ARE INTENDED ONLY FOR BALANCE.
The sizing information below is the standard measurement for a walking cane. Some users may require a special length. As with any mobility device please see you doctor before sizing and use. Varying heel height of different shoes may change user's size.
When we refer to Cane sizing here we are actually talking about determining the correct length for a cane. There are several ways that can be used to do this.
The first and best way to do this is known as the "floor to wrist crease" technique and it offers the greatest control, the least strain and the best security. The intended cane user should be wearing their most comfortable walking shoes. Women should wear their most comfortable low heeled walking shoes (how to adjust for high heels will be discussed later on in this article). The cane user should be standing up straight with their arms hanging in a relaxed position and their eyes looking straight ahead. A second person is required to measure from the user's wrist crease to the floor with either a tape measure or a yardstick. This distance is the recommended length of your cane from tip to handle top. The wrist crease we are referring to is the one at the top of the palm. Establish this length to the nearest half-inch. As a rough test for accuracy, double this length and it should roughly approximate this person's height.
Now, for women using high heels, we offer the following. The difference in heel height between the walking shoe heel and the high heel must be added directly to the cane length. When a woman raises her heels in this way she also raises the crease in wrists the same amount. An adjustable cane can allow a woman to use a single cane for different heel heights. However, many women prefer to have different styles of canes for different heel heights.
Another technique, for people who already have a properly fit came, is to measure from the tip to the lowest point on the cane handle.
Be sure the cane that is being copied produces an elbow flex of 15 to 20° when the user stands in a relaxed position holding the cane.
Yet another technique, which we do not recommend for final sizing, is to simply take a person's height in inches and divide it by two, and then 1/2 inch. This technique frequently produces the same result as the first technique, but certainly not in all cases.
You can use this technique if you intend to buy an adjustable cane that provides for sufficient up and down adjustment to compensate for small errors.