Why do an individual need a walking cane? If your knee doesn’t lend support like before or your injury restricts an easy gait, a health professional would undoubtedly advise you to take a walking cane. You must have heard of walking cane and walking stick interchangeably. A walking cane is more of a medical mobility ace, and a walking stick is a companion for hiking or travelling.  How to choose a walking cane?

But here comes a problem, how do you select a walking cane that owns indifferent handles and length of the shaft? A walking cane with distinct handles, material type and linear measure confuses a buyer. Thus, they must be conscious of vivid facts at their fingertips before visiting a retail shop.

Why does a health professional recommend a walking cane?

Some may purchase a walking cane to satisfy their wardrobe collection. After all, a walking cane also symbolizes social status, though its function is primarily spent correcting balance and gait problems. Besides defining one’s social status, a walking cane is a blessing among people with arthritis. Other than arthritis, why would one require a walking cane?

  • If they are struggling for a balance and walking mannerism
  • Are they recovering from a knee injury
  • If they had been just through hip replacement surgery
  • Are they regaining their health after the stroke
  • If they stumble to arch their back and walk ordinarily
Why does a health professional recommend a walking cane?

A walking cane is called for mitigating a chance of injuries, lousy balance, and falls. As long as the pain subsides on both sides of the human body, health personnel recommend crutches, a rollator, walker, and wheelchair, which brace more than 50% of the weight.

What would you choose? – Different types of cane

When you go through varied shops and online outlets, you’ll find yourselves in a myriad of walking cane. Some can be wrapped up in a small size, while others stand friskily straight. One of the walking canes supports arthritic conditions, whereas another is the best companion for neurological disorders. 

What would you choose? – Different types of cane
  1. Single Tip Cane

Most walking cane has a single tip base that supports the stability and balance of vulnerable people. They are chiefly made up of rubber, preventing a user from slipping through irregular and bumpy surfaces. 

  • Quad Tip Cane

Apart from single tip cane, the quad-tip cane has four sturdy bases providing more traction among patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, neurological disorder and extreme arthritic cases. It maintains the highest range of balance since a user’s weight is disseminated to four base points equally. 

  • Walking stick

They resemble the full features of a walking cane, but somehow, both are distinct in their purposes. A walking stick is more of a supporter amidst complex pathways, mountains, bumpy roads, patchy trails, and uneven surfaces. On the contrary, a walking cane is a medical device outlined to reduce muscle and joint tension. 

  • Folding cane

When a walking cane is unengaged, where do you put it aside? You might lose it. If it’s a C cane, you might cling the cane onto your arms. What if it slips from your arm, and you may not notice? So, manufacturers have come up with a new idea-folding cane, which can be turned up in small lengths and zipped up in a travel bag. 

Which handle is suitable?

Types of handle

Place your palm and note down the points:

  •  Did you feel an ache when holding a handle?
  • Also, did it cramp your fingers?
  • Did your joints ache while clutching the handle?
  1. Round Handle

It is a traditional handle, ideal for attaching a cane to one’s arm, armchair, and ladder’s rails. The round handle is convenient for a daily routine walk instead of medical purposes.

  1. Offset Handle

The slightly curved mid-point next to the handle of a walking cane pinpoints total weight to the centre and maintains balance on the hook. It is a remarkable choice to reduce muscle tension of wrist/

  1. Derby handle

They twirl in the handle releases the palm stress. If you are seeking a walking cane for a severe arthritis case, Derby handle tops the nomination for the best handles. 

  1. Ergonomic handle

Like an offset handle, its top part of the shaft next to the handle is curled; well, the design provides sturdy balance and diminishes hand fatigue.

Cane accessories: what tags along with a walking cane?

Using a walking cane is an unchallenging task. Plus, its accessories handle a walking/balancing task as easy as ABC.  

  1. Wrist strap

You can find a wrist strap at the end of the handle to attach your hand to it while gripping a cane. It allows the cane not to fall; you don’t have to bend every time a cane slips from your palm.

  • Rubber tip

The end of the shaft is provided with a rubber tip, preventing slips and trips. Yes! The rubber tip slurps every uneven surface and protects a user from queasy balance.

  • Ice tip

There’s no saying that a walking cane doesn’t fit well on icy surfaces. The ice tips are pointed steel attached to the lower part of the shaft, maintaining balance while walking over snow and ice. Additionally, the feature can be turned off when out of use.

Now, you might not stumble your thoughts over choosing a walking cane depending on its type, handle’s category and accessories.