Cane vs. Crutch — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 27, 2024
Cane is primarily used for stability and minor support during walking, while crutches are designed to offload weight from an injured leg, providing substantial support and stability.
Difference Between Cane and Crutch
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A cane is typically used by individuals who need slight help with balance and stability when walking. It's often employed by those with chronic conditions like arthritis or minor injuries. Whereas, crutches are essential for individuals who cannot use one leg temporarily or permanently, ensuring they can walk without putting weight on the injured leg.
Cane designs are generally simple, consisting of a straight or slightly curved stick with a handle, and are made from various materials like wood, metal, or plastic. On the other hand, crutches come in different styles, such as underarm and forearm, and are often adjustable to fit the height and body type of the user.
Canes are less intrusive in a user’s life, often seen as an aid used by the elderly or those with a slight impediment. They are more about maintaining rhythm and balance while walking. Conversely, crutches are more about functionality than aesthetics, necessary for more severe mobility issues and are often used temporarily until recovery.
Canes may also serve as a fashion statement or accessory, available in various styles and finishes, and sometimes even featuring decorative elements. Crutches, while mainly practical, have seen some customization in terms of color and pattern but remain focused on ergonomic design and comfort.
Users typically transition from crutches to a cane as they recover from an injury, indicating improvement in mobility and decrease in the need for support. Crutches are for significant mobility aid during more severe stages of recovery, while a cane helps in the later stages, providing minimal support as strength and balance improve.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Minor support and balance
Significant weight offloading from a leg
Typical Users
Elderly, people with chronic conditions
Individuals with severe leg injuries
Design
Simple, may be decorative
Functional, adjustable, ergonomic
Material
Wood, metal, plastic
Metal, plastic, composite materials
Stage of Recovery
Used during later stages
Used during initial, more severe stages
Compare with Definitions
Cane
A support stick used to aid walking, typically for the elderly or those with minor mobility issues.
She used a cane to help stabilize her steps as she walked through the park.
Crutch
Essential for individuals unable to bear weight on a lower limb.
Her crutches were indispensable after her knee replacement surgery.
Cane
A walking stick often used as a style accessory.
His ornate cane was more about style than necessity at the formal event.
Crutch
Comes in varieties such as forearm and underarm crutches.
He preferred forearm crutches for greater mobility and comfort.
Cane
An aid used for balance rather than full mobility support.
After his minor knee surgery, he used a cane for a few weeks for added balance.
Crutch
Typically adjustable to suit the height and body type of the user.
They adjusted her crutches to fit perfectly, ensuring she was comfortable.
Cane
Lighter and less cumbersome than crutches, making them suitable for chronic issues.
As her arthritis worsened, she found a lightweight cane helpful for daily walks.
Crutch
Used temporarily until recovery or permanently in cases of severe disability.
Though primarily a temporary aid, some use crutches permanently due to chronic conditions.
Cane
The hollow jointed stem of a tall grass, especially bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem of a slender palm such as rattan.
Crutch
A crutch is a mobility aid that transfers weight from the legs to the upper body. It is often used by people who cannot use their legs to support their weight, for reasons ranging from short-term injuries to lifelong disabilities.
Cane
A length of cane or a slender stick, especially one used as a support for plants, a walking stick, or an instrument of punishment
Tie the shoot to a cane if vertical growth is required
Crutch
A support used by an injured or disabled person, often in pairs, as an aid to walking, having a vertical shaft that is sometimes forked, a horizontal grip for the hand, and a crosspiece that is positioned under the armpit or a cuff that wraps around the forearm.
Cane
Beat with a cane as a punishment
Matthew was caned for bullying by the headmaster
Crutch
Something on which one depends, often excessively
A mnemonic crutch.
Cane
Take (drink or drugs) in large quantities
The others were probably out caning it in some bar
Crutch
A forked support or part.
Cane
A slender, strong but often flexible stem, as of certain bamboos, reeds, or rattans.
Crutch
A forked leg rest on a sidesaddle.
Cane
A plant having such a stem.
Crutch
(Archaic)The crotch of a person or animal.
Cane
Such stems or strips of such stems used for wickerwork or baskets.
Crutch
To move using a crutch or crutches.
Cane
A bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea) native to the southeast United States, having long stiff stems and often forming canebrakes.
Crutch
To support on a crutch or crutches.
Cane
The stem of a raspberry, blackberry, certain roses, or similar plants.
Crutch
A device to assist in motion as a cane, especially one that provides support under the arm to reduce weight on a leg.
He walked on crutches for a month until the cast was removed from his leg.
Cane
Sugarcane.
Crutch
Something that supports, often used negatively to indicate that it is not needed and causes an unhealthful dependency; a prop
Alcohol became a crutch to help him through the long nights; eventually it killed him.
Cane
A stick used as an aid in walking or carried as an accessory.
Crutch
A crotch; the area of body where the legs fork from the trunk.
Cane
A rod used for flogging.
Crutch
A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
Cane
A glass cylinder made of smaller, variously colored glass rods that have been fused together, used in glassmaking.
Crutch
(nautical) A knee, or piece of knee timber.
Cane
To make, supply, or repair with flexible woody material.
Crutch
(nautical) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch.
Cane
To hit or beat with a rod.
Crutch
(heraldry) A type of cross formed from two C-shapes joined back to back.
Cane
A plant with simple stems, like bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem thereof
Crutch
(transitive) To support on crutches; to prop up.
Cane
(uncountable) The slender, flexible main stem of a plant such as bamboo, including many species in the grass family Gramineae
Crutch
(intransitive) To move on crutches.
Cane
(uncountable) The plant itself, including many species in the grass family Gramineae; a reed
Crutch
(transitive) To shear the hindquarters of a sheep; to dag.
Cane
(uncountable) Sugar cane
Crutch
To stir with a crutch.
Cane
Maize or, rarely, sorghum, when such plants are processed to make molasses (treacle) or sugar
Crutch
A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other.
Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone.
Cane
The stem of such a plant adapted for use as a tool
Crutch
A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest to hold the leg of the rider.
Cane
(countable) A short rod or stick, traditionally of wood or bamboo, used for corporal punishment.
Crutch
A knee, or piece of knee timber
Cane
(with "the") Corporal punishment by beating with a cane.
The teacher gave his student the cane for throwing paper.
Crutch
To support on crutches; to prop up.
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse.
Cane
A lance or dart made of cane
Crutch
A wooden or metal staff that fits under the armpit and reaches to the ground; used by disabled person while walking
Cane
A rod-shaped tool or device, somewhat like a cane
Crutch
Anything that serves as an expedient;
He uses drugs as a psychological crutch
Cane
(countable) A strong short staff used for support or decoration during walking; a walking stick
After breaking his leg, he needed a cane to walk.
Crutch
A mobility aid used to transfer weight from the legs to the upper body.
After the accident, he relied on crutches to keep weight off his broken foot.
Cane
A length of colored and/or patterned glass rod, used in the specific glassblowing technique called caneworking
Cane
(countable) A long rod often collapsible and commonly white (for visibility to other persons), used by vision impaired persons for guidance in determining their course and for probing for obstacles in their path
Cane
(uncountable) Split rattan, as used in wickerwork, basketry and the like
Cane
A local European measure of length; the canna.
Cane
To strike or beat with a cane or similar implement
Cane
To destroy; to comprehensively defeat
Mudchester Rovers were caned 10-0.
Cane
To do something well, in a competent fashion
Cane
To produce extreme pain
Don't hit me with that. It really canes!
Mate, my legs cane!
Cane
(transitive) To make or furnish with cane or rattan.
To cane chairs
Cane
A name given to several peculiar palms, species of Calamus and Dæmanorops, having very long, smooth flexible stems, commonly called rattans.
Like light canes, that first rise big and brave.
Cane
A walking stick; a staff; - so called because originally made of one of the species of cane.
Stir the fire with your master's cane.
Cane
A lance or dart made of cane.
Judgelike thou sitt'st, to praise or to arraignThe flying skirmish of the darted cane.
Cane
A local European measure of length. See Canna.
Cane
To beat with a cane.
Cane
To make or furnish with cane or rattan; as, to cane chairs.
Cane
A stick that people can lean on to help them walk
Cane
A strong slender often flexible stem as of bamboos, reeds, rattans, or sugar cane
Cane
A stiff switch used to hit students as punishment
Cane
Beat with a cane
Cane
Made from materials like wood or metal, canes can be both functional and decorative.
The wooden cane he carried was carved beautifully.
Common Curiosities
What is the main purpose of using a cane?
A cane is used primarily for stability and minor mobility support, especially among the elderly or those with slight balance issues.
How do crutches help after an injury?
Crutches help by offloading the weight from an injured leg to allow mobility without putting pressure on the leg, aiding in recovery.
What are the benefits of forearm crutches over underarm crutches?
Forearm crutches offer better long-term comfort, greater mobility, and are less likely to cause underarm pain or injury.
Can a cane be used as a permanent mobility aid?
Yes, canes can be used permanently, especially by those with chronic conditions that affect balance or mobility slightly.
Is a cane or crutch better for severe injuries?
Crutches are generally better for severe injuries as they provide substantial support and completely offload weight from the injured leg.
How do I choose between a cane and crutches?
The choice depends on the level of support needed; canes are suitable for minor balance issues, while crutches are necessary for significant injuries or disabilities.
What should be considered when buying a cane?
Consider the handle type, height, weight capacity, and material for durability and comfort.
What safety tips should be followed when using a cane?
Ensure the cane is the correct height, check for a rubber tip for grip, and use the cane on the opposite side of the injured leg for better support.
Are there different types of crutches?
Yes, the main types include underarm crutches, which are supported under the armpits, and forearm crutches, which are supported by straps around the forearms.
How do adjustable crutches benefit the user?
Adjustable crutches can be tailored to the user’s height and body type, enhancing comfort and effectiveness.
Can crutches be customized for comfort?
Yes, crutches can be adjusted and padded for comfort, and are available in different materials to suit individual needs.
Can a cane help with knee pain?
Yes, a cane can help alleviate knee pain by reducing the load and pressure on the knee during walking.
How do crutches affect mobility compared to canes?
Crutches allow for more significant mobility adjustments, especially for those unable to use one leg, whereas canes offer support mainly for balance.
What materials are canes typically made from?
Canes are typically made from wood, metal, or plastic, depending on the style and functionality required.
Are crutches only for temporary use?
While often used temporarily, crutches can also be a permanent solution for those with permanent mobility impairments.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Taboo vs. Forbidden
Next Comparison
Fluffy vs. FuzzyAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
