Walking sticks make it easy for people with mobility problems to easily move around and stay independent. For centuries, humans have used them to get some extra support and balance while walking. People with medical conditions or the elderly are the most benefitted by it. However, how do you choose the right walking stick for you or your loved ones? You have to consider the best wood for walking stick; then there is the size, handle, and so much more. To help you deal with it here is some information you can use to find the one walking stick that would best suit you or your loved ones.
Tips to Find Best Walking Stick
Individual needs
Just like any other thing, identify the reason why people are struggling while walking without assistance. It would help you identify the factors you would have to focus your search on the most. Is the walking stick for someone that has recently undergone surgery or is in recovery, or it is the old-age. You would be required to choose the walking stick depending upon these factors.
Wood or metal
The next thing you need to think of is the material. The main advantage of metal waking sticks is it is lightweight and sturdy. They also cost you less than the wood ones. You will also easily find foldable and extendable metal walking sticks that are very flexible while moving. But the durability of the metal walking stick is questionable.
If you are getting a walking stick for the elderly, it is advisable that you go for a wooden walking stick. Given they would be using the walking stick for a long time, you can go with oak wood – considering it is the best wood for the walking stick. It doesn’t corrode and is not as heavy as other wood.
Off the shelf or custom made
There is a wide assortment of good websites from where you can order a walking stick. However, if the standard size is not suitable for the user, you must opt for a custom-made walking stick. The walking stick’s size is very important to consider as a wrong-sized cane might put a lot of stress on their lower back. To avoid that, go with someone experienced in woodwork or metalwork to offer you custom-made walking stick services to maximum comfort and mobility as per their unique body proportion.
Urban or rural walking
If the user of the stick is living in a rural area, they might have face problem moving around irregular and non-smooth surfaces. You might have to consider a walking stick with a tripod base to add more support while walking. However, it would reduce some speed of the person while walking but would prevent them from any injuries.
Balance
Talking of tripod-base walking sticks, they not only help you with the irregular surface but would also instate balance while walking. There are some adjustable walking sticks available on the market; however, they only come in metal.
Handle type
The different types of handle types available in the walking stick are:
- Anatomic handle: It is designed for comfort and support and fits in the shape of the hand. It is best for people with some excess weight and ideal for people dealing with rheumatism or arthritis in hand.
- Crook handle: It is easy to hang up on a chair or coat hook and is a very traditional design. However, the grip is not so much good and can cause discomfort when used for a long time.
- Right-angle handle: They are very comfortable and traditional; you would usually find a wooden walking stick with these types of handles.
- Swan neck handle: An improved version of the crook handle, it allows the user to put more weight on the handle and thus improves balance and support.
Wrapping Up
In the blog, we have mentioned absolutely necessary factors that you need to consider while buying a walking stick. However, it not always this would fit all your needs. Consider consulting a walking stick maker for custom design and bringing more comfort in the user’s life.
