When the doctor recommended that your mother start using a cane, you were the first one to agree. You were also the first one to share that you actually had a couple in your house that she could try. The doctor did a double take, but you were quick to explain that in your years of watching golf tournaments you had actually gotten used to having a seat stick with you when you traveled to the biggest professional golf association (PGA) events. Once you realized how handy these items were, you quickly discovered that other kinds of mobility aids were helpful in some of the other activities that you enjoy.
You have different kinds of walking sticks that you use on different trails in different parts of the country. The seat stick is still your favorite accessory and you are not to shy to use it no matter what your age is. Having a place to sit as you wait for your favorite golfer to approach the tee, has allowed you to see more professional golf moments than the average golf fan. You assured both your mother and the doctor that you were pretty sure you could help find a cane for walking and a cane with seat as well.
Being willing to start using a walking aid as soon as you need it can mean that you will be able to live a longer and healthier life. Patients who are unwilling to use a walking aid, on the other hand, can find themselves unsteady and putting themselves at risk of falling. From custom walking canes to folding canes, finding the right kind of walking aid allows you to live a healthier and longer life:
Consider some of these statistics about the use of walking aids and how they can help many different kinds of patients:
- 22.3% of cane users cite osteoarthritis as the main reason for their limited mobility.
- 25% of older adults falls every year in the U.S.
- 50% of all older adults who fall indicate that their falls take place at home.
- 70% of mobility device users select a cane as their walking device, making canes the most widely used mobility devices in America.
- Dizziness when standing up or walking and unsteadiness are two of the most common causes of falls in the elderly.
- An older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall every 11 seconds.
