How to Walk With a Cane After a Hip Fracture

A hip fracture causes severe pain, bruising, swelling and difficulty walking. Treatment generally requires surgery. After surgery, you may need the added assistance of a cane for several months while you heal. Whether or not you have surgery, your physician will determine how much weight you are allowed to bear while walking to avoid further injuring yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Cane

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Instructions

Walking

• 1

  Grasp the cane close to your body in the hand on your uninjured side.

• 2

  Move the cane and the leg on the side of your hip fracture forward at the same time. Keep the cane directly across from the instep of the foot on your injured side.

• 3

  Step forward with your uninjured leg.

• 4

  Continue walking by repeating steps two and three.

Going Up Stairs

• 5

  Grab the handrail with the hand on the side of your hip fracture.

• 6

  Step up with the foot on your uninjured side.

• 7

  Move the cane and the foot on the side of the hip fracture to the step where you placed your good leg. Your feet and the cane should be on the same step.

• 8

  Continue climbing up the stairs one at a time by repeating steps one through three.

Going Down Stairs

• 9

  Grab the handrail with the hand on the side of your hip fracture.

• 10

  Step down with the cane and the foot on the side of the hip fracture.

• 11

  Step down with your good leg. Your feet and the cane should be on the same step.

• 12

  Continue climbing down the stairs one at a time by repeating steps one through three.