During ambulation, a patient complains of left hip pain when stepping forward with the right leg

You suspect that this is due to degenerative changes at the hip joint and wish to reduce the amount of compressive forces at the left hip joint during ambulation. When considering the mechanical forces acting on the left hip joint, which of the following would be most effective in reducing the hip joint compression force?
a. Using a cane in the right hand with a moment arm of 15 inches
b. Using a cane in the right hand with a moment arm of 20 inches
c. Using a cane in the left hand with a moment arm of 5 inches
d. It is not possible to distinguish between these answers with the information given.

ANS: B
Use of a cane in the left hand would offset the forces on the left hip, but moving the cane to the right hand adds a great deal more distance to the moment arm to further offset the compressive forces on the left hip. A moment arm of 20 inches would be best, because this average moment arm is between the hip and the opposite arm with a cane in an appropriate position.