When sweeping the cane the width in which the cane is swept is very important for the efficiency of travel and safety. The goal is to consistently sweep the cane 1 or 2 inches past each shoulder every time. You can also picture a clock face where straight ahead is 12 o’clock. In this example, you want to aim for 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock when you sweep the cane left and right.
Step 1: Hold cane out in front of you using the index finger grip. The cane should be at the center of your body facing straight ahead (12 o’clock). If you need a refresher on how to hold the cane using this index finger grip click here.
Step 2: Sweep the cane left about 1”-2” (11 o’clock) past the left shoulder. Keep the cane tip resting on the ground for the entire time.
Step 3: Sweep the cane right about 1”-2” (1 o’clock) past the right shoulder. Keep the cane tip resting on the ground for the entire time.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you become comfortable with how wide the cane should be sweeping back and forth.
