Walking sticks in "tottery" in old age

I’ve been use mine for a couple of years now. I don’t always need it. It has a flowery design. It folds down also. Definitely use it. It gives me confidence when walking.

From personal experience a walking pole or two if you prefer reminds me to stand up straight and not slump if I have been walking for quite a while When walking along a road with no pavement I find cars are more considerate than they are to friends I walk with who do not take a stick They slow and give a wider birth

Far better a walking stick than having to recover from a fall which as we all know can result in serious injury. In the nicest possible way, ignore the Chair lady and do what you want to do. I have used a walking stick for a few years now and it has given me stability. I have now progressed to a rollator which I did not want but again has proved a godsend and has allowed me to walk further than I would be able to without support. You get your stick and stay safe.

If possible book a physio appointment at your gp practice and they will give you the correct advice. I did this having fallen more than once and he insisted I use a stick, I do have rheumatoid arthritis, I haven’t fallen since using one so see that as the answer.

Yes, I hold on to a walking support and feel much safer than just one stick - and it has a bag too which is very useful. I only use it when I go out as I'm OK in the house luckily. I had a few falls some years ago hence the walking support - so far so good!

After todays discussion I was looking at people with walking sticks, and although I know little I have to say that the two sticks really look like they make sense balance wise.

I watched carefully at a lady with one stick. I realise the sort of lurch and favouring one side to do most walking work, may have been just her, and meeting her needs:
but doesnt it sort of make it worse?

We provide assisted collections to help people who are unable to move their bins to the kerbside and have no one else (aged 16+) living in their house who can help them to do this.

ExDancer this is from our local council website regarding residents who are unable to put their own dustbins out safely.
Yours will no doubt have a similar system in place.
Do ask, don't struggle unnecessarily.

I had to replace my walking poles and one of the new ones keeps shortening itself when I put pressure on it. Not good when I use it to give me confidence as my knee and my walking pole now give way unexpectedly…

Sorry not to have acknowledged all your kind advice.~
I invested in a pretty blue stick that the man in the shop adjusted to the right height for me, but last week I had a nasty fall whilst bringing the shopping in from a trip to the supermarket.
I somehow misjudged the height of the step into the porch and got my legs tangled with the stick and the shopping bag. I banged my head on the concrete floor.
My face and right shoulder are a mass of bruises and I look like something out of the chamber of horrors. I think I need a Zimmer!
But how do you do your shopping with a Zimmer, I could get it delivered I suppose .........
But how do I take the bins out?

I'll consider all your helpful ideas and have a good 'think' about them

You can get some really razzy-jazzy walking sticks. My mother used to get hers from a walking stick shop in Arundel. Masses of choice.

Mine are called Yorkshire Patterned Walking Poles. Ordered the rubber ferrules off Amazon

Oreo

Sounds like you do need one to help with balance, but it needn’t be a fuddy duddy wooden one.Look online at hiking sticks there’s a good variety in funky colours.

Agree on this. I use 2 "flowery patterned one" I got in Nountain Warehouse. I can get ghe length just right for me; shorten them to about 25inches to tuck away. I have put rubber ferrules on the bottom of both sticks to cover gge spijes as this works better on pavements.

You can do exercises to help with balance but the most crucial thing is NOT falling over. And in fact I find that using two sticks mean I can walk more purposefully which builds muscle. Plus I have bought my self a light rather smart rucksuck solving tge problem of uzing them whilst shopping as keeps me hands free

I looked up when to start using a walking stick and it said that if you’re thinking about it then it’s time. That was nearly a year ago and I use it all the time and walk comfortably and confidently.
I know someone of 94 who won’t use a stick because it would make her look old!

Might sound a silly idea but are you wearing the best shoes for balance? some nice trainers around these days and they give you a good grounded walking possibility?

merlotgran

I’m no expert but I would have thought using a stick and walking with confidence is better for muscle tone than tottering along taking care not to fall.

I agree, if it makes you walk more than that a plus.

Also the balancing bits - like, just when you are in the, kitchen, put your hands on the surface, and move your weight from side to side and practice gently lifting one leg up and then the other. Just little and often. You won't fall over as you are using something to help balance. Focus hard...breathe deeply..feel your feet on the ground.

Medics often describe falls in the elderly as a "terminal event" as it can lead to major breakages of weaker old bones from which it is hard to recover.

If you feel unsteady I would recommend using whatever keeps you safest. That is the priority.

My daughter bought me a folding walking stick a couple of years ago, I'm very unsteady on my feet...even indoors, I've to hold on to furniture. I use my stick when I'm in the garden too when I don't have it I walk like someone who is drunk

ExDancer what rubbish. I have using a walking stick since I was 29 now 68. If I didn't I would fall. Safety first. I go to 2 exercise classes a week do 7 exercise at home and 900 rotations on my static pedals .

Your instructor isn't the one who will get hurt if you fall and break a bone. My instructors always say use what you need to stay safe . I have a bed bar on my bed to help me get in and out safely and a bar to help me get off my sofa.

Get in touch with the occupational therapy department and falls unit of your local council they will come and assess what you need. Equipment free of charge .

I now use a stick when walking outside. I tend to lose my balance quite easily and it just helps to keep me safe. It is really strange but I am much more stable indoors unless I do a sudden turn but even in the garden I need the stick. I read somewhere that there are more references points indoor to help our balance. Also unevenness in ground level - our lawn is not bowling green level.

I’m a retired physiotherapist who used to work with fallers / people with poor balance, and let me assure you that what you have been advised ( not to use a stick because it will cause muscle weakness) is incorrect. You sound like you need one to maintain your balance and safety ( better that than fall and fracture your hip!!!) but you need to continue balance and strengthening exercises to maintain / improve strength and balance. Definitely use a stick , especially outside . Good luck x

ExDancer, ignore your Instructor. You’re far more likely to keep your muscle tone by walking using a stick. As an earlier poster asked, how old is she? Please don’t risk a broken hip. I’m 85 and, like Grammaretto, I too have had a TRH (through arthritis not a fall), mine was last November and only now am I nearly back to anything like normal. It’s no joke - so get that stick (or sticks), get walking and tell your Instructor to do a little more research (in the nicest possible way!)

Teabag woman
Thank you.
I never thought of getting a lightweight one as an option for when I need a one that can pack away quickly.mine is an all terrain walker which can fit in the car but it takes more space.

I’m with Truffle on the subject of walkers. I have a lightweight one that’s easy to put into n a car but much prefer my larger one that’s easy enables me to walk much further at a better pace and comfortably. I’m partially sighted and find that people are much more helpful when I use my walker than when I use my white stick.

I have balance issues and use a stick it has helped a lot. Previously when walking my arm would shoot out as I wobbled it is not the first time I have almost hit someone.
I thought about getting a walker but hesitated as I felt it would age me but I wanted to feel safe as I never know when the vertigo will strike.
Recently I bought a really good quality walker and it has changed my life. I walk upright have full balance and take longer walks due to feeling more secure. I still use my stick but get a lot more exercise using the walker as I can walk at a good pace. For your own safety I would definitely suggest you use a stick or walker.

If you feel safer using a stick then use one but continue the exercise class. However a GP consultation may be wise to investigate the causes of your unsteadiness. Who knows it may be something easily remedied. X