A nurse at an extended care facility is instructing a class of assistive personnel (AP) about client use of assistive devices during ambulation. Which of the following instructions should the nurse give the APs about the clients' use of a cane?

Safe ambulation using a cane requires proper sequencing of movements to maintain balance and reduce weight-bearing on the affected extremity. A cane is used to improve stability in clients with unilateral weakness by redistributing body weight during gait. Correct instruction is essential for assistive personnel to ensure client safety and prevent falls during mobility. Understanding the correct gait pattern is a key component of mobility assistance education. A. The cane grip should be level with the wrist crease rather than the waist. This positioning ensures proper elbow flexion of about 20–30 degrees, which allows optimal weight distribution and control during ambulation. If the cane is too high or too low, it can impair balance and increase the risk of strain or falls. B. Moving the cane forward first is correct because it initiates the gait cycle and provides a stable base of support before stepping. The cane is advanced approximately 6–10 inches ahead, followed by the weak leg, and then the strong leg. This sequence ensures weight is partially supported by the cane, reducing stress on the affected limb and improving stability during walking. C. The cane should be held on the strong (unaffected) side, not the weak side. This allows the cane to support the weaker extremity by bearing weight during movement of the affected leg. Holding it on the weak side would reduce stability and increase the risk of imbalance and falls. D. The client should not move the strong leg immediately after the cane without proper sequencing. The correct pattern is cane first, then weak leg, followed by strong leg. This ensures weight is safely transferred and balance is maintained; otherwise, improper sequencing may lead to instability and increased fall risk.