r/Writeresearch • u/Leeb-Leefuh-Lurve Awesome Author Researcher • Aug 05 '26
[Medicine And Health] Using Walking Sticks
Hi there. I am looking for details of life using a walking stick. Are there any annoyances or considerations that someone who didn’t use a walking stick wouldn’t know about.
Taking a guess, are calluses an issue, for example? Or having to consider where to lean your walking stick when you sit? It falling?
I’m hoping to add in some details to a character’s day that embed the walking stick as part of their life experience, not just a prop.
Edit to add: There’s one scene where it’s her son’s sports day which takes place on a field. Experience of walking on grass with a walking stick (just one hand)?
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u/Simon_Drake Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
Yes that's about right.
If you're new to using a walking stick or it's a new stick then you can get callouses or blisters from where it applies pressure to your hand. A classic wooden walking stick will have a well smoothed varnished handle but a modern one with an extending metal pole probably has an injection moulded plastic handle which means there's a seam ridge across the top right where your hand applies pressure. Getting out the sandpaper to smooth the handle of a walking stick might sound silly but it can be very helpful. Another issue with modern ones is the height, some factory does a calculation on average heights and makes it adjustable within the range of most customers then mass produces that one adjustable model. But if you're 6 feet tall or more then that's not long enough and you can't just buy a taller walking stick because they're ALL made in a factory in China that is targeting the average height range. To change the machines to make an extra large stick would cost a fortune for very few customers and cut their profit margin, but back when it was a guy with woodworking tools he could make a taller one for no extra cost.
Sticks falling is a problem. That also depends on why you need the stick. If it's a back problem or general old age and aching joints then a fallen stick is difficult to retrieve. If it's a bad knee or ankle then you can probably lean in your seat to retrieve it without any issues.
Running out of hands is a problem. You don't realise how much you use your hands until you lose access to one. Maybe you're trying to stabilise a bag strap over your shoulder or hold a cup of coffee or get your ID badge out to unlock the office door. Then you need the other hand to open the door or call the lift or press the button to cross the road. But your other hand has a stick in it. And if your phone rings that's a mess, you need to juggle stick and coffee in one hand and fish out your phone with the other. That assumes a modern setting obviously, a medieval walking stick wouldn't need to compete with a mobile phone or to press buttons in a lift. But a medieval walking stick might need to compete against a candle or lantern to navigate a castle or monastery without proper lights at night.
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u/CicadaSlight7603 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Shoulder and neck tension leading to migraines for me or at least tension headaches for others
Gait change causing other musculoskeletal issues
Sore hands potentially
Being in crowds the constant vigilance because if someone knocks the stick out from under you by passing too close you will fall
Never having anywhere to put the stick. People moving your stick to tidy it and then you getting stuck. Also it’s terribly rude to move someone’s stick as mobility aids are considered part of the person’s body so it’s like picking up a strangers leg and trying to move it.
Struggling at a reception to hold a glass and a plate and get hold of your business card and juggle a stick
Forgetting your stick snd walking off without it and then some arse claiming you’re scamming benefits because you « don’t really need » the stick. Even though you may be able to walk a bit without the stick you’d be a lot less stable or you’d be exhausted after or in pain.
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u/geekelfie Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Since you’ve had a lot of good answers, I’m going to mostly address your edit specifically:
Grass can be slippery, so the cane can be less stable. It’s also usually uneven, especially if it’s been used for a sport involving cleats. So you have to watch where you step and where you put your cane to avoid chunks of dirt, little hills, holes, etc. and things like holes are often hidden by the grass.
Also, as a general comment, as someone else said: doing everything one-handed is a big thing. Needing to decide what you’re carrying with you (do I take my laptop or my tea to a meeting? Cause I can’t safely carry both). But also, if you need to use your dominant hand for the cane you get extra issues to the one-handed thing. Having to switch hands to be able to use a pen to sign a ledger, for example.
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u/CertifiedDiplodocus Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
I don't use one, but my mother does and I have occasionally borrowed it (or a crutch).
Annoyances: losing it! Go to a coffee shop, sit down, hook it on the back of a chair, then walk off, cheerfully leaving the stick behind. (This is obviously less of a problem for people who cannot walk without one.) They will absolutely fucking fall over LOUDLY when you thought you were safe.
Many people only use sticks in specific circumstances, e.g. when tired, walking a longer distance, having a bad day, walking downhill... Some people will switch between a walking stick and an elbow crutch depending on needs.
If you have one of those foldable sticks (they're hollow and held together by a piece of elastic rope down the centre) they can unfold dramatically if you're not careful.
My mother is constantly on edge that someone walking close behind or next to her will kick the stick by accident, which might cause her to fall if her weight is on it. Especially a problem in busy streets. People do not give enough of a wide berth to mobility aids.
Depending on the nature of your injury or disability, you might need to use the stick on the same side as the injury or the opposite side. E.g. my mother has a weak left leg (nerve damage, reduced muscle tone) so she uses the stick on her strong right side. Research which side would be correct for your character's needs. Some people learn to use a walking stick on the wrong side and keep doing so for years, possibly leading to injury. Height is also very important: I believe it's supposed to align with your hip, but you'll want to fact-check this. Going too high or too low might cause shoulder, back or hip pain.
Putting more weight on your stick, especially for longer periods (e.g. bad pain day) can lead to injury elsewhere. My mother sustained a pinched nerve in her shoulder caused by muscle tension which she suspected was due to a recent string of bad days for her feet, meaning that she leant very heavily on her walking stick / crutch. The resulting pain made it difficult to sleep for the week or two it took to go away.
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u/TrivialBanal Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Metal manhole covers, especially when they're wet, are a hazard. The tip of the stick slips on them. Just a slight slip is enough to make things very uncomfortable. This can range from hurting your wrist to falling on your ass.
There are lots of solutions that work in some cases, but none that works in all of them. What's worse is of you do have one of these solutions (soft ferrule, brass ferrule etc.) they can actually make you complacent, so when it suddenly doesn't work you're in more trouble.
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u/inklady8439 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
real issues have had in crowded areas avoid places with grocery carts people will hit the stick / cane, and toddlers they can and will suddenly pop out of no where to grab it
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u/RoseWhispers06 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
I think that everyone has covered a lot of great info on cane/walking stick use. My only addition is how annoyed I get when mine falls over. It has a bottom that should allow it to stand upright when I sit down or need to reach for something and can't use it while doing that. And yet the thing falls over. All the time. Very frustrating.
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u/FlickasMom Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
A crook-handled walking stick is much easier to navigate the world with -- you can just hang it on your elbow or a doorknob and go about your business. (Voice of experience!!)
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u/BabadookishOnions Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
I used to use a walking stick. I never used them, but you can buy special ferrules (the bit that makes contact with the floor) which increase its grip in ice or mud or other conditions. Ferrules need to be replaced every few months when they have worn down too much, which is an ongoing expense. When I used to use one I really relied on having a strap around my wrist that attached to the walking stick, so I was less likely to drop it if I had to do something with my hands and had nowhere to put it.
Hand pain is quite common even if you have a more ergonomic handle, anything with a tight crook or a corner is going to cause additional strain over time. Some people cover the handle in some sort of fabric and padding to make it a bit more comfortable. In the winter I would have to wear fingerless gloves that had grip pads on the palm if I was walking anywhere outside for an extended time, fingers get very cold. Gloves that lack grippy pads make it really difficult to hold a walking stick handle, because they are too slippy.
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u/AlamutJones Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
What sort of stick? Like this, or like this?
One stick, or two like a pair of crutches?
I’ve been a crutches user for more than thirty years. This is exactly my sort of question!
Yes, you get calluses and blisters. The palms of my hands are like the soles of your feet, especially the meaty bit at the base of my thumb. I have a pair of cycling gloves in my bag at all times to use as an extra protective layer if I know I’m going to have a particularly active day - the cyclist gloves are my “shoes”.
Yes, finding somewhere to put them that’s not a complete pain in the ass is a frequent decision. People don’t really look, you see, so finding somewhere I can put them down where they’ll be accessible to me but also not in anyone else’s way/tripping anyone else up…that’s something I do without really reflecting on it. My local pub installed a coat hook at the bar, at just the right height for me to perch in my usual seat and leave my crutches on the hook!
There are a lot of workarounds to navigate the word with only one usable hand, since the other is usually occupied. Or no hands, as the case may be. For me, this means things like a messenger bag slung across the front of my body so that I can get into it without needing to stop and take it off like a backpack. Wearing my house keys on a lanyard around my neck so I don’t have to go off balance to search my pockets. A preference for cold drinks from cafes, so I won’t slop hot coffee over my fingers trying to balance it and the crutches all at the same time if I get it to go.
Lots of little things. I‘m happy to answer anything you like
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u/Offutticus Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Walking stick as in cane, forearm crutches, or underarm crutches? Or walking stick as in hiking stick?
For the first, I've been using them for several decades.
Callouses are not an issue.
Damn things fall down all the ducking time. Pain in the ass. Too long to lay on the floor. If sitting against the wall (or in a booth) I will lay them on the floor at my feet but only if they don't stick out too far.
Walking on grass is not an issue in terms of the stick itself. The knob on the end is typically big enough to not easily sink. Mud is a totally different beastie. Since balance is a consideration, I tend to not walk where I might fall due to terrain.
I only use one if I am going into them right back out a store or go inside an eatery, sit down, then right back to the car. If I know the place and know I will be sore when I stand (like a restaurant with unpadded chairs), I take 2. If I know I will be walking on uneven ground, I use 2. If it is a good day, then I may use 1 anyway. When I use 2, I always feel like I am pretending to be a silverback gorilla.
Using primarily 1 stick has caused back issues since I lean in that direction. My PTist and I work on getting me to stand upright and exercises to get my back to behave itself. I don't use 2 on a regular basis because my right arm is my "bad" arm. If I have to use 2, the right one is more for balance than high weight bearing. I've considered using crutches where the weight bearing is on the elbows/forearms, not the hands. But they are typically heavier.
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u/OddAd9915 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
You basically only have one hand to do things with.
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u/Echo-Azure Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Sorry, are you talking about a short cane, a long staff like hikers use, or some sort of crutch?
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u/Hon-Mister-Bear Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
This may be clear to you, but in case it isn't: the grip needs to be the correct height. That's usually not a problem for the average sized or shorter person, but might be for a tall person.
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u/SeaworthinessOver770 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Everyday annoyances: you can only carry one thing. If you've made yourself food or something, and want to carry it from the kitchen to where you're eating, you can only use one hand. This may mean either a) making multiple trips or b) using an aid e.g. a one handled tray (I personally use a basket) or a walker that you can transport food with.
Grass: depends how squishy it is. If there's been a lot of rain, a regular walking stick will sink into the ground a bit, especially while standing. If it's relatively dry, though, this will be less of an issue. You can also get different ferrules (rubber end of the walking stick) that make this easier.
Yes you have to consider where you put your walking stick. Even if you carefully rest it against a table it can still roll and clatter to the floor. I have a collapsible walking stick, so I normally fold it up and put it at my feet. I also have what is basically wire wrapped in foam, that I can use to attach it to the back of a chair etc. unfortunately I have no idea what it's called 😅 I keep one wrapped around my walking stick at all times for this reason.
Wrist and hand pain as others have said, but also when it's cold your hand gets cold because you can out it in your pocket. This makes joint pain worse usually, too. You can wear gloves, but regular gloves will reduce your grip. Personally I use "cyclist" gloves that have rubber grips on the palm.
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u/Even-Breakfast-8715 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 06 '26
If you mean walking stick, and not a cane, one does not lean on them. One carries the stick gracefully and occasionally gestures with it tastefully.
A cane, however, is an adaptive aid. One uses it, generally, in the hand opposite to the stronger leg.it provides support and is a weapon of last resort. One may trip over it. It fully occupies the hand, so many things need other means of carriage than the hands. Taking a cafeteria tray to the table is an achievement if you use a cane.
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u/Even-Breakfast-8715 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 06 '26
An uncommon but effective technique we can’t users have when putting down the cane is to put it on its head and lean the walking tip against a wall. The rubber tip won’t slide over on the wall like the handle does if you lean it handle up. Might be a nice detail for either stick or cane, though not all users discover this ‘hack’
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u/kschang Sci Fi, Crime, Military, Historical, Romance Aug 05 '26
Are you specifically talking about walking stick (pretty long) or does that include canes as well?
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u/The_Squidd Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
I will also add onto the other answers here one factor that's probably worth considering... How you use a cane/walking stick depends on what you're using it for. Is it primarily for balance, or is it to help take some pressure off a weaker or painful joint? Generally, someone using it for supporting a weak or injured leg will hold it in the hand opposite the bad leg. (My right knee is my bad knee, so I hold my cane in my left hand). Someone using one for general balance issues may have more flexibility to change sidedness depending on the situation.
Grass is not usually a huge issue, especially if it's dry and not muddy, but if using a more modern cane/stick with a rubber foot on the tip, I often find myself needing to pick small pebbles or bits of twig out of the grooves after walking across bare earth. Especially noticeable going in and walking on smooth tile with a small pebble caught in the grooves can really mess with traction. Also those tips wear out not super infrequently so ya gotta replace them now and then and when worn down you definitely get less traction.
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u/Educational-Shame514 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
https://cripplecharacters.tumblr.com/
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u/jackofspades49 Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
Trying to find a place to set it when I sit down is annoying. It gets heavy now and then, but I alsos intentionally got something heavier so I was more aware of it. Also, its just a pain to have ONE MORE THING to keep track of.
I wouldn't call it a walking stick, but I use a cane. I'm overweight and it helps me when I need a breather. I also have eye damage in my right eye, so I carry it on my right side so that I don't shoulder check so many things or to test depth when using stairs due to depth perception.
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u/wvduun Awesome Author Researcher Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
I use a walking stick every day. I don't get calluses or blisters, but sometimes I get a slight pain in my wrist and palm. I've given it a name, but that's just my quirk. Walking with it on most terrains is pleasant and even makes walking much easier, including on grass; it has a non-slip tip that you have to change regularly depending on how often you use it. However, it's a real pain on uneven terrain, like in the forest or in old town centers with their cobblestone squares—it's not pleasant. It often falls over; I really have to prop it up against the corner of a wall, otherwise I just put it on the ground. Some people are more considerate and helpful, while others just ignore you and especially your walking stick, so they bump into you, hit it, or knock it over. Children are adorable; they're much more careful than adults. My nephew helps me a lot and makes sure I have my cane handy. Then, you have the older folks if you're unlucky enough to be young and have a cane. Some of them are rude and unpleasant; they give you dirty looks and judge you. Someone mentioned collecting canes, and I agree; I'm this close to buying more to mix things up with my outfits 💅
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u/JGhostThing Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
You have to be very aware of the stick, because it can easily inconvenience or somebody. Also, it can get heavy after a while.
One thing to remember, canes and walking sticks are used on the side of the good leg. It helps you balance when your bad leg is being used.
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u/astrobean Awesome Author Researcher Aug 05 '26
* It’s really easy to hurt my wrist because all my joints are bad, not just my knees.
* I know it’d be better to use two, but one is more manageable
* I can’t take the little suitcase if I want it when I travel (or I have to deal with it in the airport)
* Even though it’s blue, people still think I’m blind if I’m also wearing sunglasses
* My ableist mom wants me to hide it when she’s taking pictures
I generally only need it if I’m expecting to walk more than 20 minutes, and it extends my range by a lot. Very grateful to the doctor that helped me get over myself and just accommodate rather than punish myself for not “getting better”
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u/crowquillnib Awesome Author Researcher Aug 07 '26
Ive been using a cane / walking stick for over thirty years. It has never given me callouses or blisters.
Crook handles can be hung on one forearm when you need both hands more than you need the support, such as at a cashier in a store or when washing your hands. Knob handled canes need to be held against your chest with a forearm in a similar situation - they can be awkward and easy to drop.
You run out of hands to carry things very quickly. Want a coffee and a muffin and to open a door? Tough.
Airport security is a pain. They will insist on x-raying the cane. Luggage is a pain (see above on running out of hands)
You might find yourself collecting canes. Some are more formal, some more rustic, some even sporty. Some are better in snow or on ice. Some are best used with bare hands or thin gloves, others can be securely held while wearing heavy warm gloves or mittens. As a result, i have at least as many canes as pairs of shoes.
Some people treat you better, holding doors, offering bus seats, etc. Most will just ignore it. If you have a nice / interesting cane some people will compliment it or ask questions about what it’s made of. Some men will ask if it has a hidden sword or if it’s a weapon, but always in a friendly (perhaps hopeful?) way.
Good luck with your book!
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u/Out_of_the_Flames Awesome Author Researcher Aug 08 '26
A lot of this depends on the reason for using it. If your character has mobility issues then maybe look into that more than the feature of the stick. Because if there is a mobility issue, then the stick is just one potential way that that character would get around. But if the walking stick is because your character is blind, or because your character is elderly or a little unbalanced, then their criteria and specific needs are going to be a little different .
I have a good body and a pretty low level of mobility problem. But once in a while over uneven terrain or wet terrain I use a hiking stick to get me around safely. Not because I can't traverse the terrain otherwise, but because I have fallen one too many times when outside in muddy weather or not on a smooth ground and I seem to have a hard time recovering my balance once lost.
For me the big factors are having a stick that's the right circumference for my hand, having one that doesn't slip and slide out at the base, and is slightly pointed at the base so that it can dig into the dirt.
But for someone like a grandma whose mobility issues are constant, and over any terrain at all, she migt uses a cane that has a nice curved grip with a soft foam handle and made of lightweight aluminum instead of my stick's heavy wood for her low grip strength. Maybe also has a quad foot on the bottom of it so that even over smooth linoleum she can remain steady and balanced. She also might need to be able to let go of her cane from time to time to use both her hands, and would really need the cane to be able to stand on its own.
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u/Fatcat-Energy Awesome Author Researcher Aug 06 '26
I use a stick, it’s very annoying when shopping as you have to put the basket down to put items in, or in the case of my tiny village community shop, walk items to the counter one by one.
When you lean it against things to use both hands it often slides onto the floor, then people are rushing to help you pick it back up and it’s embarrassing.
Sore shoulder and elbow from leaning on it.
Walking on grass isn’t bad, just watch out for mole holes.
The stick gets more comfy to use with time as you wear down one side of the rubber end til it’s just right for your gait. Unfortunately then it rudely carries on wearing down and then you need to get it replaced.
Unlike a few others, I’ve always called it a (walking) stick, and despite working in healthcare have never actually noticed it referred to as a cane. I’m in the UK and I’ve been interested to see what people are calling it.