Canes and trains and automobiles
Nov. 4th, 2004 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninevirtuesTime to review the hip:
When you stand on one leg, you have the weight of your head, arms, and trunk on that hip, plus you have the weight of the other leg hanging on the opposite end of your pelvis. Accordingly, 5/6 of your bodyweight is now resting on one leg.
When you use a cane, placing it in the hand that's on the same side as the hurt leg transfers some of the weight of the head, arms, and trunk down through the arm to the cane. Like, 15%.
However, if you place the cane on the opposite side from the hurt leg, it acts as a countertorque to gravity. This countertorque (produced by the back muscles) may be equal to the torque caused by the abductor muscle (side-of-butt muscle) contraction. Then the joint reaction force on the hurt leg is due only to the compression from bodyweight and a small amount of the abductors on the side of your butt.
Result: About 60% of the load on your hip when you walk is removed. Nice!
Now try handing a hurt person a cane and getting him/her to use it. Not happening! It is a symbol of old age, so we'd much, much rather not.
When you stand on one leg, you have the weight of your head, arms, and trunk on that hip, plus you have the weight of the other leg hanging on the opposite end of your pelvis. Accordingly, 5/6 of your bodyweight is now resting on one leg.
When you use a cane, placing it in the hand that's on the same side as the hurt leg transfers some of the weight of the head, arms, and trunk down through the arm to the cane. Like, 15%.
However, if you place the cane on the opposite side from the hurt leg, it acts as a countertorque to gravity. This countertorque (produced by the back muscles) may be equal to the torque caused by the abductor muscle (side-of-butt muscle) contraction. Then the joint reaction force on the hurt leg is due only to the compression from bodyweight and a small amount of the abductors on the side of your butt.
Result: About 60% of the load on your hip when you walk is removed. Nice!
Now try handing a hurt person a cane and getting him/her to use it. Not happening! It is a symbol of old age, so we'd much, much rather not.
