In House M.D., Dr. House commonly uses a cane as a walking aid.
House has chronic pain and weakness in his right leg after an infarction in the quadriceps muscle. The injury occurred before the series begins and shapes both his physical movement and his dependence on the painkiller Vicodin.
His cane is more than a prop. House uses it while walking through the hospital, entering diagnostic discussions, and confronting patients or colleagues. The way he holds and swings it became one of the character's most recognizable visual traits.
House's limp, cane, and drug dependence are related but distinct elements of his characterization. The cane helps him move, while Vicodin is used to manage pain. The series later explores the consequences of his addiction and the difficulty of separating legitimate pain treatment from dependency.