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Seniors aren’t made from a cookie cutter, so they have unique, individual needs. Some seniors can live quite normally well into their senior years, while others are less independent and may have specialized needs. When it comes to the use of walking sticks, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Medical professionals recommend using a walking stick for seniors with balance and mobility issues. Walking sticks offer stability and support for seniors experiencing joint problems, leading to a loss of flexibility or mobility. Walking sticks can also help prevent falls.
If you or a loved one are wondering if the time has come to start using a walking stick, you’ve come to the right place. This article aims to shed light on the question of whether all seniors should use walking sticks. Keep reading until the end of the article, and you might find the answers you are looking for.
Benefits of Walking Sticks
Before we can answer the question of whether all seniors should use walking sticks, let’s explore the benefits of a walking stick. You might be surprised that some seniors are repulsed by the idea of using a walking stick. If your grandpa is anything like mine, you know that convincing them to start using a walking stick is no easy feat.
My grandpa lived through a war. So you can imagine how someone from that generation might feel about relinquishing that toughness to the vulnerability of old age. To him and countless others like him, the walking stick symbolizes dependence, and it can ultimately cause a sense of helplessness. Some seniors may not be ready to accept that.
I mention this because starting someone on a walking stick isn’t a matter of just buying them one. I learned that the hard way and have since come across several people who have had the same experience with their elderly folk. Research why a walking stick is needed and how it benefits its user so you can make a case for using a walking stick.
Here are some benefits of using walking sticks:
- They provide stability.
- They can help maintain balance.
- They can help prevent injury.
- They enable social integration.
Walking Sticks Provide Stability
The elderly are not as stable on their feet as they used to be. Lacking flexibility and mobility in the joints can make them prone to falls. A younger person would not usually be thrown off-center by uneven pavement, but the elderly are at risk of this.
A walking stick acts as an extra weight-bearing limb that offers additional support to help keep its users stable. This “extra limb” also reduces stress and tension on the joints because the user’s weight is distributed to the extra limb instead of being born by the skeletal frame.
Walking Sticks Can Help Maintain Balance
Balance issues are also common in the elderly and may arise due to visual or neurological changes that come with advancing age. Regardless of the underlying cause, walking sticks can aid with maintaining balance by the very same mechanism that they provide stability.
When thrown off balance, our first instinct is to grab the closest thing to us to help break the fall. Having a walking stick provides this. If you’ve ever observed someone with a walking stick be thrown off balance, then you noticed that they instinctively grabbed onto the stick to stay upright.
Walking Sticks Can Help Prevent Injury
Providing stability and aiding with balance can go a long way in preventing injury. Humans can self-correct when they lose their balance, much like cats can reconfigure their body alignment relative to the ground when taking a fall to land on their feet. This ability stems from both reflex and instinct. Both are diminished in the elderly.
If you’ve ever had a near-slip, then you know what I’m talking about. What you probably didn’t realize at the moment is that while your feet were losing contact with the slippery floor, your upper body was lurching forward to offset your weight and disrupt the fall that would land you on your head or back. The elderly lose this ability, thus the need for a walking stick.
A great example of a walking stick that checks all the boxes is the Elesik Walking Cane (available on Amazon.com). Its ergonomic t-handle design reduces hand fatigue. The cane’s pivotal base design provides maximum ground contact that enables more stability. It is also foldable, making it convenient to carry and store away when not in use. It comes in black, blue, and purple.
Walking Sticks Enable Social Integration
By bearing some of the weight of its user, walking sticks reduce the stress and tension on the joints. This can help with flexibility and mobility. Mobility is essential to the independence of a senior, and this independence allows them to participate more actively in groups or communities.
By preventing injury, walking sticks also prevent isolation. An elderly person who sustains an injury from a fall may become permanently disabled and may need to depend on caregivers. This affects their ability to be integrated into communities.
When It’s Time To Start Using a Walking Stick
You will find sources that say a walking stick is recommended for all seniors. On the contrary, you will also find sources that say a walking stick should only be used when indicated by the person’s physical condition.
However, both schools of thought tend to agree on the non-negotiables of using a walking stick. If you can’t convince an elder to start using a walking stick, it might help if they heard it from a physician.
It is generally considered time to start using a walking stick when the following conditions are met:
- When the doctor recommends it. A doctor prescribes a walking stick based on the person’s overall health and physical condition. Most doctors would only recommend a walking stick when the benefits outweigh the inconveniences.
- When there is a history of slips or falls. Elderly folk with a history of slips or falls are at a higher risk of injury, especially if balance issues caused the fall. Using a walking stick will diminish this risk and allow the senior to have greater independence.
- When you have certain medical conditions. Some degenerative conditions indicate the use of a walking stick. Some seniors may not feel the need for one if their pain is manageable, but the walking stick reduces wear and tear on the joints. People with conditions such as degenerative arthritis may find a walking stick vastly improves their mobility and quality of life.
Walkers help seniors walk and remain independent. But when is the best time to start using them? Read my guide to find the signs that show it’s time for the elderly to use a walker. 13 Signs It’s Time for the Elderly to Use a Walker
Final Thoughts
Walking sticks are recommended for seniors with balance and mobility issues that may stem from previous injuries or medical conditions. A walking stick provides additional support and stability that can prevent injury and promote independence.
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