Some people need walking cane because they struggle with some diseases. In this blog we want to answer the question: "Do canes help with back pain?"

Modern medicine has many treatment options for back pain, but for some people an ancient, low-tech option is the answer—or at least part of the answer.

People have been using canes and walkers to get around for ages, and for good reason. A cane can help you stay active without putting too much weight or pressure on your back.

Staying mobile is important when you have back pain. It not only helps you do what you want to do, it helps you avoid stiffness and keep muscles and bones strong. Staying active helps improve both physical and mental health.

You can find a variety of cane types from ones with a standard T-shaped handle (these help with balance but can’t support much weight) to multi-legged canes that provide maximum stability.

You can often find canes in a variety of colors and patterns too, if you’re interested in making a fashion statement.

We strongly encourage you to work with your health-care team to be sure you’ve chosen the right type of size of device, that it’s sized correctly for you, and that you’re using your cane or walker correctly.

One thing you may not realize it that you need to hold a cane on the strongest side of your body. So if you have pain or weakness primarily on the left side of the body, the cane goes in the right hand.

This makes sense when you consider that you swing your right arm forward when you move your left leg and vice versa. So your cane swings forward as you move your weak side forward.

Using a cane is just one of many options that can help you remain mobile while recovering from back pain.

One of the top reasons to use a cane is simply to avoid sitting for long periods. Office jobs and other occupations that require constant sitting often cause muscle loss. Without regular use, both muscles and skin can lose their firmness. Sitting down also decreases blood flow throughout the body, which can cause added joint and muscle stiffness. To avoid these effects, try standing more often even if you cannot walk very far.

The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

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