A walking cane or stick can be defined as a device that primarily helps people in walking, assisting in maintaining a good posture or providing postural stability and support. There are walking canes for men and walking canes for women that also serve as a self-defence device and a fashion accessory. It can be an ideal device for people who want to be more active. The right walking cane offers several benefits, so this should be your go-to solution if you have mobility problems.

There are different types of canes available today. It includes:

• Single Point Walking Stick-

Also called by the name of straight cane, these lightweight and inexpensive sticks are usually made of aluminium or wood. These sticks are ideal for patients who require an additional point of contact with the floor to achieve balance.

• Offset Canes

Just like single point walking sticks, these canes are made of aluminium, and the lengths can be adjusted according to the users; thus, there are no requirements for custom fittings. However, patients with painful gait disorders who have mild to moderate antalgic gait require these aluminium-based offset canes.

• Multiple-legged Canes

The multiple-legged cane features a four-legged stick usually made of aluminium. These items help in weight-bearing, offer more stability for the patient and increase the base of support. Doctors also prescribe for hemiplegic patients to severe antalgic gait from osteoarthritis.

• Hemi Walker

Hemi walkers are made of aluminium, featuring a vertical component with two legs and one single handle and another component with two additional legs angled away from the user.

These are some of the canes primarily used by people. Let us talk about the benefits offered by these walking canes.

Benefits of using walking canes

Here are some of the benefits incurred by using walking canes:

• Upper body workout

Walking is not much of a total body workout as the movement only involves lower backs and legs rather than the shoulders and arms. However, when you use a walking stick, it helps activate the unused parts of the body during walking to offer a comprehensive rounded exercise. All you have to do is pick it up and place it in front of you, thereby activating your upper body part during the walking process.

You need not worry if your walking will get more difficult or challenging. It will simply help you get the most while you walk.

• Effective for your body joints

If you are older, walking can cause a lot of pain in the back, knees, and other joints as the total amount of weight come down on those areas with each step you take. A walking cane will assist in even distributing body weight so there won’t be much pressure on sensitive parts of the body.

• Improvement of mobility and stability

If you face trouble getting around or have a hard time being upright, a walking cane is the best to increase stability and mobility. The users can lean on the cane while standing up, thereby spending more time on their feet without exhausting the body. Moreover, it also helps in getting around with ease, implying greater self-reliance.

These are some of the benefits of using walking canes for men and women. Let us learn about how to use these sticks.

How to use a walking cane for men and women?

Canes are extremely useful for people who have a hard time walking and standing on their own. Whether you want to help yourself improve body mobility or overcome some injury, a cane is quite a good investment. So, let us learn how to use a cane. We are sharing some tips that will help you how to safely and confidently walk with a cane:

• For beginners

If you are a beginner, you start by holding the stick in the hand that is opposite of the side that requires support and then position the cane slightly to the side and move 2 inches forward. Then, hold the cane steadily and walk forward with your unaffected leg. If you are uncomfortable at first, you can ask someone to supervise your movement. However, after some time, you will start getting comfortable with it.

• On the stairs

While navigating through the stairs, it is recommended to take extra care. For support, you should hold onto the handrail. If one of your legs is affected by any pain, step up with the unaffected one first. While walking down the stairs, put the stick on the lower step first and then step the affected leg onto the step, followed by the unaffected ones.

• Sitting down into chairs

If it is possible, sit in chairs that feature armrests. While sitting on the chair, position yourself in the chair front so that the seat’s edge touches the leg’s backs. If it is a single-tip cane, it is better to keep one hand on the stick while placing the other on the armrest and then gently lower down into the chair.

These are some of the ways of using walking canes in different situations.

Conclusion

Walking canes are quite useful if you have anybody conditions and thus should be encouraged to use while walking. However, it is best to buy the best quality ones.

Want to buy walking canes for women and men? Derrick Sticks is your answer. We are a family-owned enterprise based in County Mayo in the West of Ireland, producing one-piece walking sticks from a diverse range of wood species, including Birch, Alder, Gorse, Hazel, Holly, Ivy, Blackthorn Privet, Hawthorn, and Rhododendron. We source all the raw materials locally for our sticks, thereby guaranteeing completely handmade Irish. Though most of our sticks are not perfect, all of them are unique in their way. Get in touch with us today by calling at 353 87 653 8126. Alternatively, you can email us at shillelaghs@derryhicksticks.com