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The show House has advisors to keep the show’s medical references accurate, but has anyone ever addressed the matter of House’s improper use of the cane? I had wondered about it myself a time or two, but didn’t pay that much attention because it’s not my area of expertise. But I just got a message from a real-life physical therapist, Dee Dee, so tells us the real scoop about proper cane usage:
I have been watching House since it premiered. I am a Physical Therapist by trade and watching House ambulate with his cane has bothered me since it first came on tv. I was taught in PT school (by lecture, by demonstration and by complicated math problelms) that you always carry your assistive device (i.e. cane) in the hand opposite the injury. House should be using the cane in his left hand NOT his right one. By using the cane that way, it applies less stress and weight on the injured limb, so less pain. Thanks.
Thanks, Dee Dee for the correct information!!
I tend to be generous with these sorts of things when watching TV shows, because without the info from professionals like Dee Dee I wouldn’t really know the difference anyway and I watch the show for the characters.
But now that we know the real cane scoop, what do you think of this information? Does it bother you to know that no one has corrected this? Does it matter to you at all? Leave a comment to share your thoughts!
tv, Television, house tv, House, hugh laurie
I’m a PT as well and while technically, the cane should be on the opposite side of the injury, I’ve had many a patient that cannot manage the cane in a non-dominant hand. Oh, and if we want to get really technical, a single-point cane is designed to be a balance point, not weight bearing. If you need to take weight off your leg, you really should be walking with a small based quad cane(a cane with feet) or a forearm crutch. And don’t believe the ehow article; lots more info wrong in it than just advising people to carry the cane in the wrong hand!
It was discussed in an episode. House knows he is doing it wrong. he just doesn’t care.
I’ve had to use a cane for years, have regular pt appts, the works, and I agree with those who say it depends on your injury, condition, etc. I do use my cane on the side of my leg problem and it helps a lot, but that’s just what works for me. (Love “House,” btw, but it’s a show, not an instruction manual.) My opposite shoulder is more thrashed than my leg, so carrying the cane on that side (dominant) isn’t usually an option, rebel inclinations or not. Some days, though, as most patients will tell you, it’s any which way you can and my pt says switching occasionally as needed reduces the constant wear and tear on one hand. It’s rare anyone using one has the exact same condition (s) in same place anyway. It’s a lot like choosing/using the right kind of shoes; what fits one person great can drive someone else to, well, feeling they need a cane (or at least six boxes of band-aids). Best solution for me I’ve found is to alternate between at least two canes, each with different-style handle. Best cane I’ve found for my use (esp. for longer distances, uneven terrain) is the lightweight sort with a shock-absorbing spring inside and putting 360 degree tilt tips (or at least a tip with excellent traction) (they sell ‘em separately several places online, can find with a short search)on all.
i have to have constant use of a cane but my doctor told me there is no proper way to use a cane. you’re instructions are correct if you want to achieve balance. I limp in my right leg causing me constant back and leg pain. I find that if i support my right leg with the cane i achieve as much balance as if the cane were acting as my right leg (and also confirmed by my doctor.) so don’t feel bad to use it either way. also here is another quote from another “house” site:
“it is not a mistake. Biomechanically a cane should be used in the opposite hand when the injury is at the hip joint. If the injury is at the knee or below, it is more efficient and more biomechanically sound to hold the cane on the same side as the problem. In House’s case the injury is involving muscles that are primary movers–specifically extensors–of the knee (he seems to be able to move the hip at will). It can be assumed, therefore, that the cane is to compensate for his knee instability; thus he is actually using it properly on the side of the injured leg.
As someone who suffers from constant leg pain I would like to add that by carrying the cane on the same side as the bad leg you can put most of your weight on the cane and hardly even use your leg. If you use the cane on the opposite leg while it may help with stabilizing as you walk you can not put nearly as much of your weight on it thus putting more pressure on your painful leg.
” Bear weight on the proper side. You should hold your cane on the same side of your body that your injury is on. If you are using the cane for general mobility rather than an injury, hold the cane using your dominant hand and bear weight on this side of your body. This will make the cane bear the majority of your weight, as well as the impact caused by your motion when walking (eHow).”
I have always used my cane on my right side / side of injury.. My ortho doc yells at me, but he knows I need the added leverage for my knee, so he lets it slide. My back never hurts.
The issue is not what is right and what is wrong. Yes, there is a more medically smart and a less medically smart but think about it. If House was so concerned about being medically smart, he would not be a junkie. He uses the cane on the right side because it causes less pain, even the therapist mentioned in the article said that is what happens. The problem and the reason he should use it on the left is so that the right leg does not become so dependent on it. It helps the healing process to use it on the left but if House cared about the long run, he would not be addicted to painkillers.
I agree with Becka. I had the same problem and it was so much easier to use the cane on the same side of my injury. That way the cane acts like a leg. Otherwise to me you look a little stupid because your trying to use your legs sort of backwards.
…hello misposting. To finish what I was saying, after a while I switched to using it on the same side as my injury and found that it made getting around a lot easier and less painful. How exactly, oh great PT commenters, is this BAD?
I’m 23 and have a knee injury that sometimes requires me to use a cane to get around. My PT taught me how to use the cane properly and I tried it for a while, and it never seemed to do much good. Not only did it make my knee hurt as much as it did when I walked on it without the cane, but I was always stumbling and ending up jolting my bad leg because it was so awkward walking with the cane on the opposite side of my injury.
@ Grace: You’re right, it could solve the problem. But I remember him saying something akin to “I love my leg”. It’s nearly the same thing with the blood stained carpet in his office. If you view something as being part of yourself, you don’t wanna lose it.
And who knows, maybe some people are what they are (or really good at wthat they do) because of living in constant pain…
I KNOW that losing a leg is a terrible thing, but so is living in pain. Why couldn’t House have his leg amputated and fitted with an artificial leg.
Wouldn’t that solve the problem?
Well, then he must be doing it to annoy everybody who “knows better” and/or because he feels more comfortable this way…
BTW, interesting discussion, given that I’ve got a lot in common with House himself (according to colleagues and friends)…
1) random: There has never been any mention on the show of a lacrosse injury. I have no idea where you got that, unless you just made it up.
2) Judith and Grace: Hugh was joking about the stone in his shoe. It’s a metaphor for something that makes your job more difficult. In his case, he specifically meant doing the American accent, but he then joked that the limp was an additional stone which might as well be caused by a real stone, because a real stone would make him limp. He does not literally keep a rock in his right Nike to help him limp – he just fakes it.
3) Doug: could you explain swing phase and stance phase? they sound interesting.
4) Greg: The episode you reference is Honeymoon (Season 1, Episode 22), and the scene is at the very end. In fact, it’s the last scene of the first season, and it’s a very moving ending. I always interpreted that fall as being caused by the pain of trying to walk normally – putting all of his weight on his right leg for a normal stride. He’s walked around without the cane before, yes, but always heavily limping, therefore keeping his right leg from having to support his entire weight for more than a split second, if at all. As far as I can tell from my research, House’s pain is caused by nerve damage from the muscle death and resulting surgery.
Poor balance does not necessarily mean lack of strength and vice versa. Right now there is a 19 year old guy that is a patient at our clinic who suffered a brain injury. He can leg press over 350 pounds but his balance totally sucks.
Let’s forget about the pain thing for now. There’s this one episode (don’t remember which one right now) when House tries to walk without it at home and falls. IMHO it’s a problem of balance – missing muscles equals lack of strength – ergo: you need something to lean on to so you don’t fall. (Despite some inconsistencies in the series, when he’s able to walk short distances without his cane (excepting his dreams) that seem a bit illocigal, considering that one episode and maybe some others.)
This above/below the knee injury stuff is total garbage. If you want to talk about a swing phase problem vs a stance phase problem, then that is totally different.
Ask yourself these 2 questions:
1) If your goal is to take pressure off of your right leg, do you want to lean to your right or to your left?
2) If you are leaning on cane, do you want that cane to be on the side you are leaning away from or the side you are leaning towards?
Well, Bia is right. I’ve read that it’s all a matter of biomechanics. If the injury is above the knee, the movement profile is more natural when you use a cane on the same side as the injury.
So basically, in the eyes of all his peers, House may be wrong when in fact he’s right. But then, it depends on what you’re taught in med school…
Larry – if you were walking on a metal beam above a pool filled with crocodiles, would you rather that beam be 6 inches wide or 24 inches wide? If you are arguing for a cane on the same side as your bad leg then you just chose the 6 inch wide beam. I don’t know why I brought that up, I know logic isn’t going to carry the day in this argument.
To answer your question, I am a PT because I enjoy helping people who are willing to help themselves. If you are dumb enough to keep smoking even though you have COPD and have to use oxygen, that is your choice but don’t expect me to feel sorry for you. If you had knee surgery and you are not getting any better because you refuse to do your exercises, I don’t give a damn. If your back hurts because you are too stubborn to use a cane properly, why should I care?
I am busy enough with people who are willing to do whatever they can to get better, why should I lose any sleep over the people who hinder their progress on purpose?
Wow. Larry, you sound like a psycho gimp. Take it from a sane gimp: Not cool. Get over yourself.
Doug,
If you “don’t give a damn”, why are you a PT? Enjoy seeing others in pain?