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Walking stick recommendations?

crazyoatmeal

My partner has severe damage to the cartilage in her knees and must walk with a cane. She finds that ordinary cheap sticks hurt her wrist and bend under pressure - do you folks have any particular brands of stick that you personally recommend?

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Comments

chiarieds

Hi @crazyoatmeal - & welcome to the community. The best idea probably would be for your partner to be assessed by a physio to find a suitable walking stick, & one of the correct height. Her GP should be able to refer her to a physio dept for this.

Should she however wish to purchase one, then an aluminium adjustable walking stick such as one of the following may suffice: https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/mobility-aids/walking-aids/walking-sticks-canes/adjustable-walking-sticks/adjustable-aluminium-walking-stick?sku=P21145

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/mobility-aids/walking-aids/walking-sticks-canes/adjustable-walking-sticks/coopers-comfy-grip-walking-stick-right-handed?sku=F26459

https://www.completecareshop.co.uk/mobility-aids/walking-aids/walking-sticks-canes/adjustable-walking-sticks/coopers-comfy-grip-walking-stick-left-handed?sku=L14400

newborn

Consider using a gutter crutch, or two, or an upright gutter rollator. 'Gutter' means the entire forearm takes the load, not the wrist or hand.

Left to the NHS, they will allow people to wreck hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders. They won't even mention the existence of shock absorbing ferrules. (Which reduce jarring and damage, for just a couple of extra pounds. Look at the Tom Fetterman site (USA but worth a browse) There are special ferrules too for icy conditions.

As a general rule with anything provided by a monopoly state system, there is no incentive for the office staff doing purchasing to provide the best available option for an individual.

P.S. ......S,O.S. If at all possible, it is best for people to purchase disability equipment from a High Street shop, even if they are 'taking one for the team' of other disabled people by paying a few percent extra than online: "Use it or lose it" matters to the disability community. There are not many disability shops, and saving a couple of pounds here or there is expensive, if the price is the last shops vanish. Knowledgeable staff, the option to try things and see things, is valuable to everyone sooner or later. One day anyone might really need to use a shop, even just to nip in and arrange an adjustment, a repair, a wheelchair battery in a hurry and so on.

(I'm not involved with any shop, this is just a matter of logic and ethics)

chiarieds

I'm unable to see the logic or ethics in purchasing a walking aid from a disability shop, should a person even have one in their locality. A referral to see a qualified physiotherapist to try different aids, ensure they are of the right height & instruct how to use such an aid in the correct manner is a far better option.

In this situation I doubt a gutter crutch or rollator is the ideal option, but the best aid would be found for an individual's circumstances by getting a physio referral. I think a qualified physio would be in a far better position to advise than a sales assistant!

This is just my recommendation as a retired physiotherapist.

SueCan3393

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/112289/walking-stick-recommendations

Hi Crazy! I have Rheumatoid arthritis which means my sticks really hurt my wrists so I bought M+D adjustable elbow /forearm crutch and they are incredible. You can buy singles or pairs and they are amazing. Try health and care website £153 per pair. Hope this helps x

Albus_Alumni

Hey there @SueCan3393 and welcome to the community. Thanks for the tips, hopefully they'll be of great help to people. 😊