Walking Stick: Applications & Health Benefits

A walking stick is an indispensable walking aid for people with relevant impairments, walking difficulties or weaknesses. It serves as a support and stabilizer while walking. Thus, a walking stick can help affected people regain more mobility. There are many different models for respective individual needs.

What is a walking stick?

As a basic model, there are very simple wooden canes with a curved handle and a plastic knob as an attachment for walking contact. From a medical point of view, a walking stick is a means of facilitating walking and relieving pressure on certain skeletal sections by providing support. There are simple walking sticks that are used on one side. To improve the grip, there are also walking sticks with corresponding 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. With particularly unstable patients to a going stick is advised, which has the form of a four-foot assistance. Thus the contact surface is appropriately extended by four rubber feet and the stability of the going stick is increased. A walking stick is also mostly adjustable in height. It is available in different materials. Often, a walking stick is also made moreover with a spike that can be attached or extended to ensure stability and grip in bad weather and icy conditions.

Shapes, types and types

Walking sticks differ in the material used, the shape of the handles, additional equipment, if any, adjustability and practical foldability. As a basic model, there are very simple wooden canes with a curved handle and a plastic knob as an attachment for walking contact. Wooden walking sticks are usually not adjustable in height and must therefore be adapted to the user directly in the medical supply store. Wooden walking sticks are traditionally used mostly on one side only. For older people, a wooden walking stick is often a valuable and indispensable support for everyday life. If medically necessary, walking sticks are also prescribed by the doctor and financed by the health insurance. As a medically prescribed walking aid for walking disabilities, walking sticks are prescribed on one or both sides. Bilateral walking sticks are mostly used in rehabilitation or when the locomotor system is very limited in coordination. Known in this context are also bilateral walking sticks 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 come in many modern colors or patterns. The grips come in many varieties, for example, the classic Derby grip, soft grips, anatomical grips or Airgo Derby grips with an additional grip loop. A distinction is further made between rigid and foldable walking sticks.

Structure and mode of operation

A walking stick in standard design 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 has a weight of about 330 grams. A wooden cane must be manually shortened to the appropriate length. In the medical supply store, the appropriate cane length is determined for the user and then adjusted for an additional charge. A metal walking stick consists of metal tubes. Whereby this metal tube is divided into two parts, as an adjustment of the height is possible through knobs and holes. The handle and the ground attachment are made of rubber. There are the metal walking sticks in rigid and in foldable variants. Some walking sticks also have reflective lights attached or a light integrated into the handle. Often these walking sticks are more popular with older people, because they are often equipped with an ergonomic handle, which provides a better grip than a classic derby handle. A holding loop on the handle is also practical to prevent the cane from slipping out of your hand. For more mobile people with walking disabilities, there are also the variants of hiking poles or trekking walking sticks with pole handles. These are often used on both sides to compensate for insecurities and provide effective support when walking faster or hiking through uneven terrain. Walking sticks are used by first moving the stick forward while walking. Once it has found a secure attachment, the next step is taken. The walking stick thus provides support and braces the step.In most cases, the user takes two steps before moving the walking stick again. However, it depends on the personal conditions whether only one step or two steps are necessary between moving the walking stick. Often, the walking stick provides support to the user not only when walking, but also when standing. In that case, the walking stick is held at an angle and supports the hip. For people who do not always need a walking stick, but only for heavier loads and longer walking, the foldable versions are particularly convenient. They can be folded up so small that they fit comfortably in a pocket. On the go, they can then be pulled out and unfolded as needed.

Medical and health benefits

Exercise is quality of life. That’s why it makes sense not to go straight for a wheelchair or rollator when the leg muscles start to weaken or the first age-related problems arise when walking, but to be able to remain 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 thus gives 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 mobility required for this.