Walking Stick – Use & Health Benefits
Walking stick
A walking stick is an indispensable walking aid for people with corresponding impairments, walking disabilities or weaknesses. It serves as a support and stabilizer when walking . A walking stick can enable people affected to be more mobile again. There are many different models to suit individual needs.
What is a walking stick?
From a medical point of view, a cane is a means of making walking easier and relieving certain sections of the skeleton by supporting it.
There are simple walking sticks that are used on one side. In order to improve the grip, there are also walking sticks with correspondingly ergonomically shaped handles or additional holders. Furthermore, it may be necessary to use walking sticks on both sides or to use walking sticks with forearm supports.
For particularly unstable patients, a cane in the form of a quadruped aid is recommended. The contact surface is extended accordingly by four rubber feet and the stability of the walking stick is increased. A walking stick is also usually adjustable in height.
It is available in different materials. A walking stick is often also manufactured with an attachable or extendable spike to ensure stability and grip in bad weather and on icy roads.
Shapes, Species & Types
Walking sticks differ in the material used, the shape of the handles, the additional equipment that may be present, the adjustability and the practical foldability.
The basic model is a very simple wooden stick with a curved handle and a plastic nub as an attachment for running contact. The wooden walking sticks are usually not adjustable in height and therefore have to be adapted to the user directly in the medical supply store. Traditionally, wooden walking sticks are usually only used on one side. For older people, a wooden walking stick is often a valuable and indispensable support for everyday life.
In the case of medical necessity, walking sticks are also prescribed by the doctor and financed by the health insurance company. Walking sticks are prescribed on one or both sides as a medically prescribed walking aid for people with walking disabilities.
Canes on both sides are mostly used in rehabilitation or when the musculoskeletal system is severely restricted in terms of coordination . Also known in this context are walking sticks on both sides with forearm supports made of plastic, which secure the movement and are made of light metal tubes.
Walking sticks made of light metal or carbon are popular. They are available in many modern colors or patterns. The grips are available in many variants, for example the classic derby grip, soft grips, anatomical grips or Airgo derby grips with an additional strap. A distinction is also made between rigid and foldable walking sticks.
Structure & functionality
A standard walking stick is 91 cm long, has a stick diameter of about 2 cm and can be loaded with up to 100 kg. Made of wood, the stick is mostly solid wood and weighs around 330 grams. A wooden stick has to be shortened to the right length manually. In the medical supply store, the right stick length is determined for the user and then adjusted for an additional charge.
A metal walking stick consists of metal tubes. This metal tube is divided in two, since the height can be adjusted using nubs and holes. The handle and the ground attachment are made of rubber. There are metal walking sticks in rigid and foldable versions. Reflex lights are also attached to some walking sticks or a light is integrated in the handle. These canes are often more popular with older people because they are often equipped with an ergonomic handle that allows for a better grip than a classic derby handle. A strap on the handle is also practical so that the stick cannot slip out of your hand.
For more mobile people with walking disabilities, there are also variants of hiking sticks or trekking sticks with bar handles. These are often used on both sides to compensate for uncertainties when running faster or hiking through uneven terrain and to be able to support yourself effectively.
Walking sticks are used by first moving the stick forward when walking. Once he has found a safe attachment, the next step is taken. The walking stick thus provides support and supports the step. Most of the time, the user takes two steps before moving the cane again. However, it depends on the personal requirements whether only one step or two steps are necessary between moving the walking stick.
Oftentimes, the cane not only provides the user with support while walking, but also while standing. Then the cane is held at an angle and supports the hips .
The foldable versions are particularly practical for people who do not always need a walking stick, but only when they are subject to heavy loads and walk for a long time. They fold up small enough to fit comfortably in a pocket. On the go, they can then be taken out and unfolded if necessary.
Medical & health benefits
Movement is quality of life. It therefore makes sense not to choose a wheelchair or walker directly when you start to weaken your leg muscles or start having problems walking , but to be able to stay mobile with an appropriately adapted walking aid.
A walking stick is a valuable support. It provides appropriate support when walking and can support the skeleton on one or both sides, making it easier to walk. A walking stick provides the necessary security when walking.
From a medical point of view, it makes sense for older people to maintain their usual activities for as long as possible. A walking stick reliably supports the necessary mobility.
Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.