Walking Stick

My FIL used hiking poles for stability while walking for years. One benefit his therapists and doctors saw was that it helped keep him more upright than a walker or walking stick would. Definitely helped with osteoporosis too. And he got lots of seniors in their senior living community using them too!

" it helped keep him more upright than a walker or walking stick would."

My aunt got a walker once because she didn’t feel too stable but it made things worse because she bent over to use it. She doesn’t use it now. She’s not walking a lot now but if she did I would definitely get trek poles for her.

I own the poles linked in #19 and have been very happy with them. I see others use poles on relatively level walking paths, but I only use mine for going up or down steeper trails. I will say that for someone uncoordinated like me it took a little practice to use them correctly. Also, I had to be careful not to rely on them too much and hunch over as I walked down inclined paths. The height adjustability can help with that.

My D worked at a local park district and one of her jobs was to lead adult hikers on evening hikes on a relatively flat course. They used the poles (provided by the park district). I went a few times and for me the poles added a little bit of upper body workout. I’m thinking of buying some for myself as well.

Trekking poles are not just for old people.

A couple of weeks ago I was staying in the woods, at Stehekin, a place in Washington that is almost at the end of the Pacific Crest Trail. It was the time of year that the through-hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail come through, looking young, thin, fit, tanned and dirty after four or five months of walking all day every day. Many carried trekking poles. They use them not only for hiking, but also for holding up their tents.

My mother didn’t like the look of traditional canes either, so she bought lightweight walking sticks at antique stores. She had some really beautiful ones. There were plain ones for everyday and more ornate ones for dressier events. We had a lot of fun visiting antique stores together to look for them.

I’m curious how she will take to them. She is a no-fuss person. I will be curious to see if she feels one is beneficial or if she can handle two. I sort of feel like two is more tricky - but maybe not! She lives on a cul de sac so I’m going to encourage her to at least try them once or twice a day around the cul de sac to get used to one/two. It seems that using two would be more of an upper body work out - which may or may not be beneficial in her mind. It might tire her out faster and then she won’t be able to take her hour walk which she will not like! :slight_smile:

But she definitely recognizes being a little off steady at moments and I think she will consider it. It probably helps a bit that my SIL who is 62 but has bad knees also recently purchased walking sticks - mom has 23 years on her! :slight_smile:

Had to report back.

Gave my mom the walking sticks this weekend. She was a little tentative - again, equating them with an “old” person. I went to her house today to pick her and my out of town sister up to take them to a nature preserve type area for a long walk. Convinced her to bring her stick. I have to say, she seemed to have a confidence with it right from the start. We were on paved area but she seemed more steady and actually a little faster. Either she was trying to make me happy or she liked it! - each time we got out of the car she grabbed it to use. I told her she only needed to use it when she wants - like she doesn’t have to take it to walk a block to the restaurant - unless she wants to.

One seems best for her now. It balanced her and she didn’t have to coordinate both sides. Even my sister visiting noticed that when she walks (without it) she sways a bit from side to side even just walking down a hallway in the house. I’m glad I got them.

Now I told her we need to give her stick a name - she doesn’t like the name “stick” - so I guess we’ll have to come up with a name so we can say, “mom let’s go for a walk -go get Suzy!” :slight_smile:

Abasket - please tell your mom that your marathon runner friend just got herself the same trekking poles to help after ligament repair surgery! :slight_smile: These are treking or hiking poles. :slight_smile: Not sticks. Your mom is in good company!

^^^ I 100% will do that! :slight_smile:

Maybe the stick can be named after a Star Trek character? Or a famous Sherpa guide? Or some explorer? :slight_smile:

I live on a hill and I use trekking poles for assistance doing my exercise walking up and down. I have Leki, their lightest ones, bought at REI. Also used them on various hiking trips including hiking up Machu Picchu.

Or name hiking poles after mountains she may like eg Everest, Rainer, Alps, etc.

I have seen young (and young at heart) buff folks rocking those poles! Using both poles will strengthen her core, but I totally get using just one for city walking. I always need a hand for my camera and managing the bag on my shoulder!