Cane and Walker Height Checker: Set the Handle to Your Wrist Crease
OrthoInfo, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' patient site, gives one rule for fitting a cane or a walker: when you stand up straight, the top of the handle should reach the crease in your wrist, and your elbow should be slightly bent when you hold it. Measure the height of your wrist crease and enter it below to see which products in our guides reach it.
How to Measure Your Wrist Crease Height
- Put on the shoes you wear most.
- Stand up straight beside a wall with your arms hanging at your sides.
- Have someone measure from the floor to the crease in your wrist, where the hand meets the forearm.
- Enter the number above.
OrthoInfo says that when you stand up straight, the top of the cane or walker should reach the crease in your wrist, and your elbows should be slightly bent when you hold the handgrips. It tells you to hold a cane in the hand opposite the side that needs support.
Height ranges are not the whole fit. The ranges in our guides come from the makers' pages and listings. A cane that reaches your number still has to feel right in your hand, and a rollator should be checked while you walk with it. Ask a physical therapist if you are unsure.
Cane and Walker Height Questions
Does the Same Rule Work for a Rollator?
OrthoInfo's page covers walkers in general and does not name rollators, but the wrist crease check applies to any handle you lean on.
What If My Number Is Outside Every Range?
Look at the cane and rollator guides for taller or shorter products, or ask the maker. Do not use a handle that is set far from your wrist crease.
Related Guides
- Best Walking Canes for Seniors: Offset, Quad and Folding Canes Compared
- Best Rollator Walkers with Seats: Five Compared on Weight, Wheels and Fit