Using a cane or a crutch when you have an injury can be very confusing especially when characters on TV shows don’t even use them right! So let me show you how to walk with a cane correctly. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes very easy and natural. When we walk normally, our opposite arm swings forward with our opposite leg. When using a cane, you want the same technique so you don’t risk injuring something else while you are recovering.
The most important part to start with is to make sure your cane is the right height. Most canes have a pin you can push in to change the height. On your upper leg there is a bone that sticks out called your greater trochanter. It is just below your hip. This is where you want the top of the cane. You should have a slight bend in your elbow about 20 degrees. If the cane is too high, you might irritate your shoulder, and if it is too low, you might lean over too much.
Now for the walking part. The cane should be in the opposite hand of the injured side. Yes, House, MD did it wrong! The cane should always move with the injured side. If the injured side goes forward, the cane goes forward for support. Again, this is how our bodies naturally move; so don’t think about it too much. Just move how you would normally move. The cane should be for balance and safety, and if you feel like you are pushing really hard on it, or if you can’t walk smoothly, then you probably are not ready for a cane yet.
Working at a desk or gaming all day can cause people to get stiff and tight in their upper body and lower body. This can also cause forward posture. These quick desk exercises will help reset muscles and keep the blood circulating in your body.
BPPV, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, can literally stop you in your tracks. Hopefully this vertigo treatment with Brandt Daroff exercises will help. As always, make sure you are properly diagnosed because vertigo symptoms can be coming from something more serious.
Some of the most common accidents and injuries happen doing everyday activities. Walking, getting in and out of the shower, and even going up and down stairs can be dangerous for people with limited mobility. These simple exercises should help prevent these types of injuries.
Finding a comfortable position to sleep at night can be challenging for some people. People who sleep on their sides and suffer from back, hip, and/or shoulder pain may find these tips helpful to get a better night’s sleep.
In this video, I teamed up with Dr. Jen, a pelvic floor physical therapist who also happens to be pregnant! She'll show you her top 5 exercises to help relieve low back pain when you are pregnant by mobilizing and stabilizing the pelvis.
Red light therapy's popularity is rising, and there's a lot of research that shows red light and infrared light therapy can be beneficial for many different things. In this video, I take a look at the Luxxe Flex smart red light therapy panel.
When the pectoralis (pec) muscles are strained, overused, or even tightened due to bad posture, it can cause chest pain and tightness. These easy chest pain relief techniques should help, but it’s always important to check in with your doctor if you are having chest pain to rule out any serious conditions.
Hot & cold therapy can help the healing process during an injury, and it can also help reduce acute and chronic pain. But which one should you use? Here are some general rules for using hot verses cold.
These simple stretches are easy to do every day to help seniors stay mobile, independent, and pain free from head to toe! They can also help improve balance, gait, and decrease the risk of falls. And they are not just for seniors, they are also great for anyone looking for a simple every day routine.
