Adjust The 3rd Foot Cane to leg height not wrist height like a traditional cane.

Try different cane heights until your upright and your weight is evenly distributed between the cane foot and your feet. when walking, backing up and turning.

Use the cane with your arm next to your side and the cane on the outside of your leg like in the How To and Customer videos.

 **Keep your head up when you walk and your line of sight towards the ground ahead of you the way you drive your car or ride a bike to see everything in your path and to engage and strengthen your core muscles as you walk. You can glance down at the ground in front of you without dropping your head down and see almost up to your toes.

*The only time you should look directly down towards your feet when walking is when you’re on the stairs, in the dark, on a wet or slippery surface, sitting down, standing up, or transitioning from one floor surface height to another.

* If the 3rd Foot Cane is adjusted to wrist height like a traditional cane, or used extended out in front of your body you will not feel stable. 

 At 20 ounces the cane’s weight has been systematically calculated to maintain upright posture and stability when walking forward, backing up, turning, standing up, sitting down and on the stairs.

 Hold the cane handle with your index finger wrapped around the front of the cane shaft. Place your thumb across the top of the cane handle or wrapped around the front of the cane shaft. If you find yourself putting too much weight on the cane handle or gripping the cane handle tightly adjust the cane one notch higher and relax your hand. 

Aligned as Designed Cane how-to captions.mp4

https://youtu.be/WKwbvezNqeQ?si=FCBy-Pb6RmlUok2Y

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If you walk looking down at your feet read the Mobility Blog Post below to learn a simple 5 Day exercise that will help maintain your head upright as you walk.

https://alignedasdesigned.com/blogs/news/the-mobility-blog-part-2

 *When you walk with your head down your head becomes positioned in front of the rest of your body. Your spine loses its natural alignment and your core muscles become weaker.

 The 3rd Foot Cane can be used with the foot next to the cane or with the opposite foot.

 *If you change your shoes you may need to adjust the cane height to accommodate any difference in height.

If you're not sure if you need one or two canes, put the cane in one hand and your other hand on the other side of your body on the wall and walk. If you feel more stable having support on both sides of your body then you need two canes. Watch the first customer video on the Home Page of a customer walking with 1 cane and then 2 canes.

Some people use 1 cane in the house and prefer to use 2 canes when walking outside because it gives them added stability, support, and independence. Allowing them to move better and walk longer when outside the house.

  Some International Orders are shipped Fully Compacted (see the first video below for how to extend the cane)

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/CV62ee_hws8/?utm_source= 

Watch the other How to Adjust & Use Videos before using the cane.                                          

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 Walking With The 3rd Foot Cane When You Have Drop Foot

Adjust the cane to leg height or slightly higher. Put the cane next to your leg without Drop Foot.

 Make sure that the cane is adjusted high enough so that the foot with drop foot and the cane foot maintain your upright posture and stability when your foot without drop foot comes off the ground and swings forward when walking.

Keep your arm next to your side and the cane and cane foot on the outside of your leg to support and maintain balance and stability for the front of the foot with drop foot. When the foot with drop foot moves forward the cane foot on the other side of your body moves forward and contacts the ground together with it. Make sure the cane foot and the foot with Drop Foot contact the ground together. There are additional videos for drop foot and foot exercises on my Instagram page and more Instructions under the FAQ section on the website.  

Do not move the cane or the cane foot ahead of the front of your foot like a traditional cane that uses the cane handle to maintain balance. Adjust the cane high enough so that you’re standing up straight when walking forward, backing up and on the stairs.

* We don’t walk on our heels, and we don’t walk on our toes because we wouldn’t be stable. Use the entire cane foot together with your foot with Drop Foot from back to front or heel to toe. When you press down on the back or front of your foot press down on the front or back of the cane foot at the same time.

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgBGUbHjlLB/?utm_source= 

  Watch The How to Walk Forward, Backward And Turn video below when Using Two 3rd Foot Canes

https://youtu.be/R8hNlfMyqKU?si=DOXVycf2RvaUR3tb

If you have drop foot, MS, neuropathy, Parkinson’s, EDS, CP, PPS, arthritis or are rehabbing after a stroke, surgery or an injury and need additional help contact Customer Support at 310-800-0110.  

Do not wrap your hand around the back of the cane handle only or you will break the cane handle.

If you have a weaker side or have MS, drop foot, neuropathy, Parkinson’s, arthritis, or are rehabbing after surgery or an injury put the cane next to your stronger leg and move the cane foot with your opposite foot.  

Adjusting The 3rd Foot Cane/Canes When You Have The Different Length Legs 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdzU86pjqkr/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

 If using one cane adjust that cane to the same length as your shorter leg.

Put the shorter cane next to your longer leg. When your shorter leg moves forward, the shorter cane next to your longer leg moves forward together with it.

 Click on the link to Watch the video above or watch it on Aligned As Designed YouTube channel. 

If you are using 2 canes, adjust one cane to the same height as your shorter leg and one cane to the same height as your longer leg. Put the shorter cane next to your longer leg and the longer cane next to your shorter leg. 

When your shorter leg moves forward, the shorter cane next to your longer leg moves forward together with it. When the cane heights are adjusted correctly your weight should be evenly distributed between the cane’s feet and your feet with your head centered between your shoulders when you walk.  Click on the link to Watch the video above or watch it on Aligned As Designed YouTube channel. 

 Using the 3rd Foot Cane on the stairs

Aligned as Designed Cane stairs captions.mp4

   https://www.instagram.com/reel/CffHgH9Do2h/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Bending down & standing up using the cane

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYEytvQJm_q/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

If using 2 canes move the canes with the opposite foot when you walk. 

Bending Down with 2 canes 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYEytvQJm_q/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

 How To Use 1 Cane When Bending Down 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVjaEfUB5AM/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

How To Use The Cane Foot After Surgery Or An Injury

Keep the cane and the cane foot on the outside of your leg like in the videos and not ahead of it like a traditional cane that uses the cane handle to maintain balance. Try different cane heights until you find the height the makes you feel the most stable when standing and walking. As your injury heals and you feel more stable you may need to adjust the cane height again.

If you are rehabbing after hip, knee, or ankle surgery or an injury move the front of the cane foot slightly behind the front of your opposite foot on the outside of your leg to take more weight off your hip, knee, and ankle joints when you walk. If using one cane, you can use the cane with the foot next to the cane if gives you more pain relief. Make sure the front of the cane foot moves on the outside of your leg with your arm next to your side and not ahead of the front of your foot. 

Canes that are used after surgery are not returnable when no longer needed.

 Follow the link to watch additional videos from our YouTube Channel

 https://youtube.com/channel/UCItjzs5vS7KJQA4B2vscwiQ

Transitioning From a Walker 

*Most if not all people transitioning from a walker start with 2 canes for stability and to reestablish a balanced, stable, upright walking gait that maintains the head upright and centered over your shoulders and the body’s natural alignment before transitioning to one cane.  

Maintaining your body’s natural alignment engages and strengthens the core muscles as you walk letting you move better, get stronger and walk longer

*The length of your walking stride determines how much balance and stability your body has. When you use a walker the length of your walking stride becomes too short, and your line of sight becomes positioned towards the ground right in front of you. Your body’ core muscles become weaker because of the way the walker forces the body to be aligned, positioned, and moved to maintain balance.  

*The only time you should look directly down towards your feet when walking is when you’re on the stairs, in the dark, on a wet or slippery surface, sitting down, standing up, or transitioning from one floor surface height to another. 

You can glance down towards the ground in front of you without dropping your head down and see almost up to your toes. Drive your body the way you drive your car, with your head upright and centered over your shoulders, your underarms next to your side and with your line of sight towards the ground in the direction you’re moving to maximize your balance, stability and to maintain or regain your body’s alignment. 

Transitioning From 2 Canes to 1 Cane

 When transitioning to 1 cane check and readjust the cane height if need to. When you can walk towards a full-length mirror and maintain your midline when walking forward, turning, and taking a few steps backward like in the videos you only need one cane. 

For the average person transitioning from a walker to a cane after surgery takes 6 weeks until they can walk outside the house for an extended period without using 2 canes. If you have been using a walker for a long period of time it will take longer for you to transition from 2 canes to 1 cane. 

*If you have an iPhone turn on the Health app. Go to the Mobility Section and turn on Double Support Time, Walking Asymmetry, and Walking Steadiness. Read the explanations under each category. This will help you chart your progress. 

Transitioning From 1 Canes to No Cane

When you can walk towards a full-length mirror and maintain your midline with your head upright and feel stable when walking forward, turning, and taking a few steps backward in the house without a cane you’re ready to start transitioning from 1 cane to no cane outside the house.

***Check with your physician before starting a new exercise program or doing the cane foot exercises below.

People who have weak core muscles or want additional help reestablishing a heel to toe walking gait can do the core strengthening exercises below with 2 canes even after they transition to one cane. After transitioning to 1 cane, you can use 1 cane or can continue using two canes to do the exercises. Do the core exercises slowly for 1-2 minutes to start and then work up to 5 minutes with your physician’s approval. 

How To Use The Cane Foot To Do Standing Stretches And Core Strengthening Exercises. 

Stop doing them and call you physician if you have any pain. If you have a vestibular condition or 2 different length legs call Customer Support @ 310-800-0110 for more instructions on how to do standing stretches and core strengthening exercises using the cane foot together with your foot. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZAD4s7pnKY/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

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https://www.instagram.com/reel/CcW4vwfjWm6/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

 Parkinson’s

If you have Parkinson’s, make sure the cane foot and your feet contact the ground together and in the same way. If your foot does not contact the ground from heel to toe and contacts the ground in front of your heel on your mid foot first and then on your toes, then the cane foot should too. Make sure the front of your foot and the front of the cane foot contact the ground together even if you have a small step and stride to stabilize your gait and your body’s vertical stability when walking. Ask your physician if you can do some of the cane foot exercises below to help reestablish a more heel to toe gait.

There are additional How To and Customer Videos And Photos On Our Instagram Page Click On The Link Below.

 www.instagram.com/alignedasdesignedcane/

Please contact us by email at customerservice@alignedasdesigned.com or Call Customer Support at 310-800-0110 with any questions or comments.

Aligned as Designed Cane how-to captions.mp4

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbeOwfbDU9C/?utm_medium=copy_link

How To Use The 3rd Foot Cane If You Have  MS 

Keep your head upright and your arms next to the sides when walking. The cane/canes and cane foot move on the outside of your leg as you walk and not ahead of it like a traditional cane. When you walk with your arms next to your side it helps maintain the natural alignment of your spine and increases your body's balance, stability and upright posture.

*The only time you should look down towards your feet when walking is when you're on the stairs, in the dark, on a wet or slippery surface, an uneven surface, or sitting down and standing up.

If The 3rd Foot Cane is not adjusted high enough or used out in front of your body or with your arm/arms extended away from your side like a traditional cane you will not feel stable or get the benefit of the cane.

Read the Customer Reviews and watch the videos of Ardra Shephard, Kent Jones under the Review Section and on the home page.

Some people with MS will use one 3rd Foot Cane in the house and two outside the house to give them added stability allowing them to move better and walk longer.

Watch the video on the home page of Kent Jones-that_guy_with_ms, walking with one 3rd Foot Cane and then walking with two. See the difference in his mobility, stability and upright posture when walking with two 3rd Foot Canes.

Watch the second video of Kent Jones on the Homepage to see his progress after using the 3rd Foot Cane for two years.

Watch the video of Ardra Shephard under the Review Section talking about her experience using The 3rd Foot Canes.

If you, a friend or a loved one has MS sign up for Ardra Shephard's Blog at trippingonair.com to stay updated on the most current lifestyle and health information about MS.

Watch the Instagram video below to learn How To Walk with Two The 3rd Foot Canes

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtqGWSuR7s7/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ== 

If you have EDS, Parkinson's or CP use the cane or canes with the foot next to the cane or with the opposite foot.

Transitioning From 2 Canes to 1 Cane

For the average person it takes 6 weeks until they can walk outside the house for an extended period of time without getting tired and needing 2 canes.

If you have been using a walker for a long period of time it will take longer for you to transition from 2 canes to 1 cane.

How To Use The Cane Foot After Surgery Or An Injury

If you are rehabbing after hip, knee, or ankle surgery or an injury move the front of the cane foot slightly behind the front of your foot to take more weight off your hip, knee, and ankle joints and distribute it onto the cane foot when you walk. Make sure the front of the cane foot moves on the outside of your leg like in the customer and How To videos and not ahead of the front of your feet like a traditional cane.

When using 2 canes move the canes with the opposite foot.

Make sure the canes move on the outside of your leg and that the front of the cane foot moves with and not ahead of the front of your feet when you walk.

Post-Op Walking Instructions

**After an injury or hip, knee or ankle surgery or if you are transitioning from a walker to 2 canes adjust the cane/canes higher than leg height for the first week to give you more stability and to take more weight off your injured side and redistribute it between the cane foot and your feet.

Take smaller steps for the first week to distribute more weight off of your hip, knee or ankle joints and distribute it onto the cane feet.

Start increasing the length of your walking stride to redevelop a heel to toe walking gait that engages and strengthens your core muscles.

**If you have to stand for any length of time without moving place the cane next to your weaker leg. You can adjust the cane higher to make it easier to stand if you need to.

*** When bending down or on the stairs use the cane foot with the opposite foot.

*** Loosen the top ring to adjust the cane. Tighten the rings after adjusting the cane to prolong the life of the cane. 

Canes that are used after surgery are not returnable when no longer needed.

Stroke Rehab

Many people who use The 3rd foot Cane after a stroke can only use one cane to start because they are unable to hold a cane on the side of the body affected by the stroke. They start with one cane and as their affected side becomes stronger they transition to two canes to help reestablish a heel to toe walking gait that will engage and strength their core muscles as they walk.

Once a more balanced step, stride and walking gait is reestablished between the two sides transition back to one cane and then to no cane.

When initially adjusting the cane/canes adjust the cane for stability first, try different cane heights until you find the height that makes you feel the stable when standing and then walking.  

After the first week or two or if you feel like the cane height is too high adjust the cane height down one peg. If you have 2 different length legs watch the video for how to adjust the canes for 2 different length legs.

Will The 3rd Foot Cane Work For Everyone?

The 3rd foot Cane is Not recommended for people with Dementia.

*The cane is not recommended for people with severe kyphosis.

 People with peripheral vertigo which is positional, should use two 3rd Foot Canes to maximize their balance and increase their stability when walking, turning, sitting and standing up. Read the reviews under the Review Section from people with peripheral vertigo, vestibular, ataxia and other conditions that affect balance. 

A Cane Is Not Recommended For People With Central Vertigo

Most if not all physicians recommend using a walker and not a if someone has central vertigo which results in severe instability when walking, standing and even sitting.

Using The 3rd foot Cane on the stairs. Watch the video below

Aligned as Designed Cane stairs captions.mp4