Before you buy a walking stick, consider the points listed below:
- Discuss your mobility needs with a healthcare professional. If you are at risk of falls, please contact your GP to request a referral to the community team to be assessed at home
- Walking sticks can have handles shaped for comfort or for ease of grip which can be metal or wooden. Walking sticks are either fixed height or height-adjustable
- Folding sticks are convenient for transport but not as strong
- Check the stick has the correct weight limit for you
- All sticks should have a firmly fitted ferrule on the end to ensure the stick has stability when used for walking. Check ferrule regularly for damage and replace ferrules when damaged or worn
Walking with a stick
- When walking, a stick should be held in the hand opposite the affected leg and be placed on the ground at the same time as the affected leg.
- Using 2 sticks requires more coordination and advice from a physiotherapist is recommended.
Holding the stick when not in use
- Some sticks have a wrist strap that can be used to keep the stick close to keep the stick close when not walking.
- Clips, magnets, and hooks can be added to the top of the stick to hold the stick on work tops or other furniture and keep them close at hand when not in use.
- Ensure that when you start walking, you have a firm grip of the walking stick handle
When using stairs
- Hold onto a handrail if possible. The stick goes on the same step as the affected leg.
- The unaffected leg should lead when going up the stairs and the affected leg should lead when coming down
HOW TO MEASURE THE CORRECT HANDLE HEIGHT:
The person being measured should stand looking forward with relaxed shoulders and a slight bend in the elbow. As shown in the diagram, the distance between the floor and the wrist crease should be measured giving an approximate measurement. Set the handle height of the stick to this measurement. If when walking with the stick, the person is bent over, or their shoulders are hunching, the handle height may need to be slightly adjusted up or down respectively.
