Crutches vs. Cane: Which Is Right for You?

A cane and crutches solve different problems. Picking the wrong one means either too little support or more hardware than you need. Here’s how to tell them apart.

What a cane is good for

A single cane offers light support and balance for one side, and it offloads only a modest amount of weight, roughly up to a quarter of your body weight. It’s a fit when:

• You can bear most of your weight already and just need steadiness.
• The issue is mild, one-sided (a sore hip or knee, late-stage recovery, balance reassurance).
• You want something low-profile for around the house or short outings.

When you need crutches instead

Crutches are the answer when you must substantially offload a limb or keep weight off it entirely:

• Non-weight-bearing or partial weight-bearing after a fracture or surgery, a cane can’t do this.
• Significant weight transfer to your arms, which a pair of crutches distributes far better.
• Long-term mobility where comfort over hours matters; here forearm crutches shine (see forearm vs. underarm and long-term use).

The middle ground

Many people step down from crutches to a cane as they heal, going from full offloading to light balance support. If you’re in that transition, forearm crutches make the handoff smoother because they already feel less bulky than underarm ones.

If crutches are the answer

See our best forearm crutches picks, and take the quiz to match a model to your weight-bearing stage and how long you’ll need them. Comfort-focused models like the In-Motion Pro suit both active recovery and longer-term use.

This is general information, not medical advice. A physical therapist or doctor can tell you which device fits your specific condition and stage.