Walking Stick
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Article by – Neeraj sharma
Overview:
A walking stick or walking cane is a device used primarily to aid walking, provide postural stability or support, or assist in maintaining a good posture. Walking sticks come in many shapes and sizes. People with disabilities may use some kinds of walking sticks as a crutch.
Walking sticks, when used properly, are great devices for improving balance and stability as you age, or to compensate for an injury or disability. However, it’s often difficult to work out if a walking stick is truly what you need at this point in time. Often, people considering using a stick will ask themselves: How do I know it’s time to start using a stick?
In short, you will know it is time to start using a walking stick when your body tells you to. More specifically, using a walking stick becomes a lot more beneficial when you need improved balance and stability while walking, or if you’re suffering from joint pain when walking without one.
9 Signs it is Time to Use a Walking Cane:
1. Joint Pain:
If you feel extreme pain in your joints and knees whenever you walk and this prevents you from walking comfortably over long distances, a stick will help alleviate this pain. However, in some cases, a stick might be enough, and it might be worth looking into various types of wheelchairs, walkers, and other options.
2. Back Pain:
A painful back usually results in hunching over or similar poor posture. If you experience pain in your back during or after walking, as you seek a health expert’s opinion, it is recommendable to start using a stick to alleviate any further problems.
3. Injury:
You may have broken or sprained your ankles or knees. Resulting from the pain, you may find yourself dragging your feet – and this is likely to exacerbate any issues! A stick will help take the pressure off your legs during walking thus allowing the injury to heal faster.
4. Doctors Recommendation:
This is an obvious one, but people who have undergone surgery or have acquired injuries from minor or major accidents may be advised by a doctor to start using a stick. It is wise to adhere to this recommendation, and any recommendation of your doctor, until you feel better and strong enough to walk without wobbling.
5. You Need Assistance when Walking:
If you find yourself constantly holding on to someone or objects such as furniture when walking, a stick will come in handy and give you more freedom and independence.
6. Tiredness:
If you are often out of breath and feel abnormally tired after walking, this is an area where a walking stick can help you greatly. Sticks provide you with support, making walking more efficient so that you can walk longer with ease.
7. Old Age:
Whilst aging comes with great benefits such as wisdom, grandchildren, and empathy – it also has its fair share of troubles as your body begins to give way and grow weaker. For example, your bones become porous thus weakening your knees and legs. Due to this, it is quite common to find cases of older people falling and complaining of pains in their joints. A stick will not only help an elderly person achieve more stability but also make walking more comfortable.
8. Instability:
When walking, are you frequently concerned by fears of falling? That’s not a pleasant way to live a life, and it’s something a cane can help with greatly. With a walking cane, both your balance and stability will be immensely improved and your fears will be mitigated by its support.
9. Flights of Staircases or Uneven Ground:
If you don’t think it’s time to use a stick full time, it might still be worth having one around to use on staircases and uneven ground.
You are likely to experience the effects of gravity more on uneven ground or when going up or down a flight of staircases. For this reason, some people find themselves more unstable and prone to falls when doing such activities – and having a cane in these circumstances will help.
The benefits of walking poles:
● The arm movement associated with walking poles adds intensity to your aerobic workout, which helps you burn more calories.
● Walking poles improve balance and stability.
● Walking poles help you maintain proper posture, especially in the upper back, and may help to strengthen upper back muscles.
● Walking sticks take some of the load off your lower back, hips and knees, which may be helpful if you have arthritis or back problems.
● Walking with poles may improve your mood.
