"I created the Aligned As Designed Cane after I became disabled and needed to use a cane when I was relearning how to walk. After using traditional canes, I realized that I would never regain physical ability from physical disability unless I could create a cane with a cane shaft that was angled at the same angle as the foot and leg during heel strike of the swing phase of the gait cycle.
"I designed the back of my cane foot to have a ridge like the ridge at the bottom of the calcaneus bone of the foot. Like the human foot I made the front of my cane foot longer than the back. I added a second ridge towards the front of the cane foot to mimic the length, ridges and placement of the phalanges and metatarsals of the foot. The design of my cane foot helps the midfoot and the toes of the user to maintain balance and stability while lifting their heel off the ground and swinging their leg forward.
"I placed the cane handle of my cane more posterior to the cane shaft and cane foot to help keep the weight of the body distributed between the cane foot and the user’s feet. In traditional canes with a straight shaft, the arm and hand must move sideways away from the body and the direction of movement to maintain balance and help carry the body’s weight. The Aligned As Designed Cane helps keep the arm, wrist and hand close to the body. The user’s shoulders stay aligned throughout the gait cycle. The user’s foot and the cane foot are able to strike the ground from heel to toe like in a normal gait. My ability to regain heel-strike to toe-off during the gait cycle allowed me to redevelop core strength, upright posture and walk normally again."