One of the main ways of solving mobility problems is to use mobility aids, such as canes and walkers. The World Health Organization has declared them one of its priority tools for raising awareness of the need to use them [1].
Canes and similar devices are used not only by the elderly, but also by people suffering from various illnesses and disabilities. So there are many different types of walking aid, not all of which are suitable for everyone. In this article, we’ll outline the factors you need to consider when choosing a walking aid.
Necessity is the mother of invention. People with reduced mobility can have very different needs and lifestyles. This stimulates research and new developments aimed at helping them. That’s why today we can choose from a range of walking aids of different designs, adapted to different needs.
Your search for the right walking aid may surprise you with the number of factors to consider when choosing an assistive device to meet your needs. For example, walking sticks can be straight or offset, have different types of handles, be single- or quadruple-pointed, and be made of different materials. To make your search easier, we’ll give you a few tips on the most important points.
Take into account all your needs, challenges, and disabilities.
As we age, our body is more often confronted with illnesses and disabilities. These health problems, such as neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease), arthritis, stroke, osteoporosis or impaired vision and hearing, often lead to movement problems. The way they affect the body is different for each of them. A walking aid must therefore be adapted to these disorders and to our needs [2].
A walking aid, and especially its handle, must be comfortable and ensure that joints and muscles are not overstretched. Standard and universal handles, like those on the Wheeleo® walker-cane, ensure a good grip and ease of use. Ergonomic handles can be useful in certain cases, such as arthritis.
If your biggest problem is balance, you can choose an aid with several points of contact: a quadripod cane, a walker-cane or a rollator. Most of them have four points of contact with the ground, which ensures stability. In the case of walkers and rollators, contact with the ground is via the wheels, giving you continuous stability. What’s more, the Wheeleo® walker uses only one of your hands, which could be the best choice for improving both your stability and your independence. The Wheeleo® helps patients with Parkinson’s disease and post-stroke disabilities, as well as those with other age-related mobility problems.
Some difficulties require ongoing physical support for your body. When lifting a cane risks causing a fall, many choose a traditional walker. The drawback is that these devices are bulky and impractical. In such cases, innovative, compact devices such as walkers can prove useful.
In short, when choosing a walking aid, it’s essential to listen to your body and consider how the different parts of your device (handle, contact points, wheels) can help your mobility.
When choosing a walking aid or cane, remember to try it out in your usual environment. Some aids are better suited to certain terrains than others. For example, if you frequently use stairs or walk on uneven outdoor surfaces, a wheeled walking aid won’t be practical. On the other hand, if you only walk indoors on flat ground, the wheels will enable you to get around with greater agility. Nevertheless, the most common situation is that our environment is constantly changing. This means using several devices: a cane for uneven floors, a rollator for flat outdoor surfaces, or a walker-cane for flat surfaces, both indoors and outdoors.
Another factor to consider is the length of your device. In the case of rods, their different lengths enable different objectives to be achieved. If you need solid support, your grip should be lower than if the aim is simply to improve your balance. The more your elbow is bent, the less weight the cane can support. The Wheeleo® cane walker can be used with several length settings, helping you with both stability and balance. Another case where cane length is crucial is when using stairs (only applicable to single-leg canes). If a cane is too long or too short, it can cause falls, especially when going down stairs. The general rule for single-legged canes is that they should be at wrist height when your arm is relaxed [3]. In addition, the length of the cane is crucial to maintaining an upright posture. Incorrect use of the cane can lead to spinal stability problems. It is therefore important to always follow the doctor’s or physiotherapist’s instructions [4].
Overall, to choose a walking aid that fully meets your needs, consider the regularity of the environment, your size and the goal you wish to achieve.
Reading this article may give you some insight into how to choose the best walking aid for the elderly. But nothing and no-one can help you better than your doctor or physiotherapist.
Our bodies are different, so everyone has individual needs when it comes to technical aids. Assessing these needs can be a daunting task if you’ve never had to do it before. The best way to do this is to rely on your doctor’s expertise. Your health and safety will benefit most if the walking aid is adapted to your personal needs.
Remember that different situations may require different aids, so it’s not uncommon to have two or more walking aids. But the most important thing is to assess your needs in terms of walking aids. If you choose your technical aid(s) wisely, your quality of life will be greatly enhanced.
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