Choosing Between Walking Sticks And Elbow Crutches

Mobility aids like a wheelchair, canes, crutches, grab rails, stairlifts, etc. help make the everyday life of people dealing with mobility impairment comfortable by improving their mobility. These aids also prove beneficial in case of an injured foot or leg.

While purchasing mobility aids, people usually face a dilemma to choose between two popular mobility aids - walking sticks and elbow crutches. This is because they are not sure which aid would fit their purpose better.

The condition and intensity of impairment differ in individuals. So, if you are unsure about the requirements, consulting a medical professional to get the best possible guidance on the selection of aids and strength exercises is highly recommendable.

Read on to know a few general points to consider when choosing between these two aids.

Walking Stick

A simple idea that there is something that helps you walk without somebody's support helps boost your confidence and create a significant difference in your approach towards your impairment.

Walking sticks work well for unsteady yet independent walkers because they provide balance. A stick assists you while walking on uneven grounds or in a crowded place like a shopping mall.

To know whether to use a stick or not in your case, knowing where it is advisable to use it is important. Out of a number of uses of a stick, its primary use is to make you steady on your feet and ease pain by providing basic mobility and balance.

It is a good option for people who suffer from chronic conditions like arthritis as it relieves joint pressure and pain. This aid may also help you walk up and down the stairs. Thanks to its lightweight variants available that are so handy that you can keep them in your bag, there are no major storage or transportation issues faced.

However, in some situations, using a stick can prove to be risky. For instance, if you are suffering from an injury that requires you to avoid pressure or weight on the foot or leg, you should avoid using a stick.

It is necessary to use a cane in the correct way to get the best out of it and get good results. To use a stick effectively, you need to follow the procedure below.

Hold your cane in the opposite hand from your injury in a way that the cane touches the ground when the injured side steps forward. For example, if you have an injury on your right leg, hold the stick in your left hand and bring it down when you place your injured right leg on the ground.

Elbow Crutches

As compared to a walking cane, an elbow crutch offers more support. It could, however, be taxing for your upper body as it receives the entire weight of your injured leg/foot.

It is beneficial as it:

Prevents axillary nerve from damaging.

Helps keep your posture correct.

It provides you stability and comfort.

Makes the ascending and descending of stairs easy

Provides a neutral or natural position of the hand and wrist

Helps improve your walking speed over time

If you need to keep the weight off an injured leg or foot, a crutch can be a better option. Make sure that you adjust crutches properly as improperly adjusted crutches can cause pain and damage the nerves further.

Final Takeaway

What to choose between a walking stick or an elbow crutches? The answer to this question depends on the requirements you want mobility aid to fulfill. While a stick is to assist balance, crutches help keep the weight of your leg or foot. Choosing the right mobility aid can go a long way towards improving your mobility and quality of your life as well.

Derry has been working in the mobility aids industry since 2003, acquiring a wealth of knowledge along the way. Before Essential Aids, Derry's background was in engineering. In his spare time he is a devotee of yoga and rare reggae vinyl.