[Walking with canes and forearm-crutches. I. Reduction of loads at the hip and proximal end of the femur by one sided use of cane/crutch (author's transl)].

The effect of one cane or forearm-crutch on some mechanical parameters at the contralateral hip were investigated. 5 healthy individuals were photographed on a walkway while using an instrumented cane/crutch. Geometric data from an original mathematical model were taken from these fotographs and an X-ray film of the pelvis and femur. The resultant force and pressure at the hip joint, shear force in the femoral neck and, in one case, the bending moment in the trochanteric region were computed and expressed as a function of the load applied to the walking-aid. All values decreased with an increase of this load. The reduction of force and pressure at the hip joint achieved by application of a load equal to 15% of bodyweight are superior to those resulting from common operative procedures done for the samp purpose. Differences between the effects of one sided cane and forearm-crutch are negligible.