Assistive Devices & Positioning for Safe Mobility

Matching the right assistive device to a patient's specific deficit is a recurring competency: a cane is appropriate for mild balance issues or unilateral weakness (held on the stronger side, advanced with the weaker leg); a walker provides more stability for patients with significant weakness or balance impairment; crutches require adequate upper body strength and correct fit (weight-bearing on the hands, never the axillae, to avoid nerve damage) for patients with a lower-extremity injury who can partially or fully bear weight on one side.