Walking Canes for Upright Comfort and Independence

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Walking Canes for Upright Comfort and
Independence
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• Walking Canes
• Walking canes were originally the sign of a mans
  wealth and standing in society. Men posed with
  them, rather than use them as a tool or aid of
  any description.
• Canes could conceal knives or swords for defence
  and were used by shepherds to catch and control
  their sheep. Carrying a cane denoted authority
  and could also be used to aid walking over
  uneven terrain.
• It wasnt until after the second world war that
  walking canes became mobility aids.

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The Purpose of a Walking Cane For people who find
walking not fully in their grasp, walking canes
make walking safer, easier and more comfortable.
Used correctly, they can take the weight off
your lower back, hip, leg, knee and foot. One in
ten older adults will make use of a cane, for
balance, stability and an overall state of
wellbeing and independence.

• Walking canes work well for people with injury or
  pain to one side of the body, whereas walkers
  are best-suited to those who have injury or pain
  centrally, or to both sides.
• An individual may use a cane for a number of
  reasons, some temporary and some permanent.
• Temporary use of a cane may be because of
• hip, leg, knee, or foot injuries, to reduce the
  weight placed on the damaged area
• bone fractures and the need to take weight off
  them, to allow repair and recovery
• inner ear infections, which can affect ones
  balance
• joint inflammation, which may cause pain and
  distorted walking
• obesity, which forces excess weight onto the legs
  and feet

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• vertigo, which presents itself as dizziness and a
  possible
• balance problem
• a need for recovery from surgery.
• Permanent use of a cane may be because of
  conditions present since birth, or for long term
  or permanent health conditions which have
  developed during ones lifetime. Amongst others,
  these could include
• arthritis
• stroke
• chronic alcohol misuse
• multiple sclerosis
• Menieres disease
• Parkinsons disease
• cerebral palsy
• muscular dystrophy.
• Walking Cane Support
• A walking cane will help support individuals who
  are recovering from injury or ill health, have
  health conditions which will benefit from the
  use of a cane and also those who are concerned
  about balance, stability, or weakness in their
  legs.

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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com Cane support
will also help elderly people remain
independent a little longer into older
age. Walking canes reduce the stress placed on
the lower body and limbs and can also help
prevent falls. Feeling unsteady one ones feet
can affect both confidence and independence, so
making use of a walking cane when it feels right
to do so can help stabilise ones mood and
improve ones overall state of health and
calm. Walking canes improve overall balance and
so reduce the strain on the back muscles, which
are continuously supporting your body frame and
helping you maintain your balance. How Walking
Can Help with Some Health Conditions -
Arthritis If you have arthritis in your body or
legs, walking is one of the best forms of
exercise. Walking helps you lose or maintain your
weight and can reduce the stresses placed on
your joints, helping reduce pain and discomfort.
A walking cane as an aid gives the confidence to
take those early steps.
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• Walking can reduce arthritic pain in the
  knees and can reduce
• stiffness which, in turn, can increase the range
  of movement in the knee joint. The return of a
  healthier level of mobility will make life feel
  more positive.
• Walking releases pain-fighting endorphins and
  also reduces inflammation.
• With the use of walking canes, regular walking
  will help reduce the discomfort of arthritis and
  lead to better mobility.
• Strain, Accident, or Surgery
• Whilst in recovery, or during rehabilitation,
  from an event which has made walking somewhat
  difficult, a cane will support the body and
  reduce the weight which would normally be placed
  on the lower limbs. This will aid recovery.
• Obesity
• Obesity places a huge strain on all of the body
  and walking can both help reduce weight and
  improve overall health. The early stages of
  exercising will benefit hugely from the use of
  walking canes over short distances, until the
  body becomes trimmed down and is ready to
  support itself.

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- Vertigo Vertigo is similar to the feeling of a
severe hangover and can be extremely
debilitating. Support with walking, bed raisers
may be needed, until medication or treatment has
an effect on dizziness, sickness and wobbliness.

• Chronic Alcohol Misuse
• Chronic misuse of alcohol can lead to alcoholic
  neuropathy, nerve damage which can lead to
  tingling in the limbs. Support with walking may
  become a need.
• Measuring up to the Walking Cane
• Like getting the right shoe size, getting the
  right fit of walking cane is paramount to its
  successful use.
• The way to get the right walking cane size for
  you is
• with your shoes on, stand upright with your arms
  by your sides.
• place the base of the walking cane about four
  inches (15 cms.) from outside your foot
• ask someone to measure the length between the
  floor and your wrist. This wrist point will be
  around the same point at which the hip socket
  and leg bone meet.

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• A perfect cane length will allow your upper
  arm to be vertical
• and the lower arm to be bent forward slightly,
  allowing you to comfortably hold the canes
  handle.
• The Correct Way to Use a Walking Cane
• A walking cane should be held in the hand on the
  opposite side to your injury. When walking, this
  allows the cane to give support to the injured
  side of your body.
• The leg on the injured side of your body and the
  cane act as one, both moving forward together.
  This way, you can place your weight onto the
  cane instead of your leg, when walking.
• Do not place your cane further forward than the
  leg, as this could cause a lack of balance and
  maybe lead to a fall.
• Different Styles of Walking Cane
• Walking canes come in different styles, the
  design sometimes being specific to particular
  use. Some of the most common are
• the standard, fixed, walking stick / cane, which
  is the most commonly used
• the offset cane - the handle on this design
  resembles a swans neck and allows the user to
  place their full weight on the shaft, taking
  some pressure off the hand and wrist

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• the adjustable quad cane the swan neck places
  the users
• weight firmly over the shaft and the base of this
  cane has four base points, giving much more
  stability
• the folding walking stick this model has four
  parts, allowing the owner to fold the walking
  aid into a smaller size, to keep on ones person
• the arthritis grip cane this folding model has
  a handle designed for people who have arthritis
  in their hand(s), allowing a more successful
  grip for walking safely.
• Put a concentrated effort into learning what it
  is you need from a walking cane (i.e. lifestyle,
  daily routines, level of desired independence
  and social requirements) and maybe seek
  professional advice as to which walking cane will
  meet your needs.
• Walking Cane or Walking Frame?
• Walking canes work well for people with injury or
  pain to one side of the body, whereas people who
  have central body pain, or pain to both sides,
  will find the walker a better choice.
• A walking frame is more cumbersome than a walking
  cane, as it needs more space to turn.

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c ustomerservice_at_essentialaids.com The user of a
walking frame needs some element of upper
body strength, as the frame needs lifting forward
in order for the user to step forward. A walker
can have wheels, making it easier for the user,
though overstretching forward can lead to a
fall. A walker with wheels may also have a brake,
useful for when the user wishes to be standing
whilst stationary e.g. in a queue, or whilst
chatting. Summary The purpose of a walking cane
is to take pressure off the lower part of the
body and to stabilise balance. Walking canes can
support people with injury or pain to one side
of the body, whereas walkers support those who
have injury or pain centrally, or to both
sides. The length of a walking cane must always
be adjusted to suit the user, as too short or
too long could lead to discomfort and even a
fall. The four parts of a folding walking stick
are held together with elastic bungee cord,
which maintain the format of this handy walking
aid. All canes must have a non-skid rubber foot.
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When letting go of a quad cane, it will stand up
on its own. Using a walking cane as a mobility
aid can help the user hold on to independence
and maintain their self confidence. Finding what
is best for you is important, though some users
may find that simply having access to both
walking cane and walking frame suits their
varying needs e.g. a cane in the house or for
short distances and a walking frame for longer
journeys outdoors.
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