Has anyone tried walking poles or walking sticks to help your balance when walking?

[moparkie715]

I was wondering if anyone has tried the walking poles or walking stick to help with balance when walking,?

youtu.be/umjdLSoIY3Y(Not working as expected?)

youtu.be/MS6OkFoB9Vk(Not working as expected?)

[honjen43]

I don't have Parkinson's but do a lot of bush walking. I have used 2 poles for extra stability for the past few years. I find them very useful on uneven ground. Have friends who have invested in Nordic walking poles. There is a group here in Hamilton, NZ. When you get into the swing you can get up a good pace. Just takes a little time to coordinate.

Bargiepat has also posted on using pokes, and his own invention of walking between 2 people, each carrying the ends of 2 poles and he walked in the middle. There was video too. It enabled him to get off the beaten track!

Waving to you, Pat! xxx

Hugs

Jen xxx

[Bargiepat in reply to honjen43]

Hi Jen,

Not going this year sadly , but my children will be...............

youtu.be/3T7la5yAdCQ(Not working as expected?)

[honjen43 in reply to Bargiepat]

Sadly, I guessed as much!! But your brain is still scheming I am sure! Skis on wheelchair? Or wings? Or wires?

Keep on keeping on!

Big hug!

Jen xxx

[Yanno]

Jackie has MSA and used poles extensively to keep walking until she finally had to give in to a Rollator and then a wheelchair. Jax used Pacerpoles, available here in the UK, which have a different type of handle making grip far easier.

Using the poles extended her ability to walk in the countryside for probably 18months or so, but her mobility failed very early.

Take care, Ian

[moparkie715 in reply to Yanno]

I am sorry to hear that. Thank you

[AnneandChris]

Hi there

Chris used a walking stick initially, he tried two, but as his left hand side lost mobility was unable to use the second one. He then progressed to a wheeled walker for about a year. However, he kept falling off it and I had to steer it for him, so is now, sadly, he is in a wheel chair.

Use sticks whilst you're able but be prepared to move to other aids as and when necessary.

Sorry, if this all sounds rather brutal, but PSP is!

Keep on keeping on

Anne

[moparkie715 in reply to AnneandChris]

Thanks for your honesty

[Bargiepat in reply to AnneandChris]

I have a rigid left arm and could not steer a normal walker.

I am now in a care home and use my shopper with a heavy weight in it........... it is an amazing help.

youtu.be/vV4QAsSoYYY(Not working as expected?)

[NannaB]

My husband used walking poles for a short while (we both used them on country walks before PSP) but as his falls were always backwards, he still fell, taking the sticks with him. As he had a job to let go of things when he wanted to, whatever he was holding at the time of a fall, went with him

e.g. a washbasin pulled off the wall, a tall five drawer chest of drawers pulled over on top of him, several dining chairs, a curtain rail as he was closing the curtains and many other things. I bought a very strong, quite heavy walker but still had to walk behind him as he managed to tip it. Falling backwards was one of his first symptoms so the poles were OK at the very beginning and he used them as we had them but not for long.

I still use them for country walks and think they are great for healthy walkers and those who are likely to fall forwards or sideways but not backwards.

XxxX

[SewBears in reply to NannaB]

Wow NannaB, you’ve been through the wringer! My hubby went from walking to using a good old fashioned cane. Then a wheelchair. But now... good news... he’s walking again. Slow, but without assistance. The improvement occurred because we changed his meds to Carbadopa-Levodopa and it is working. I’m thankful for baby steps and I hope this will be a new norm for a long time to come.

[NannaB in reply to SewBears]

That’s great news SewBears. Long may he continue walking.

XxxX

[moparkie715 in reply to NannaB]

Thanks!

[SewBears]

I just watched the videos. Thank you for posting. Hubby had coordination issues using a walker. He pulled it behind him, which at the time felt embarrassing to me, especially when I ended up using the walker myself to get us back to the car. This is a bittersweet memory now that I’ve logged in my brain because that particular day brings me smiles now. I don’t think he would be able to coordinate two walking poles at the same time. I fear his mind would jumble up the commands of how to use them because that is what happened with the walker. If the issue were based solely on balance then I would definitely give it a go. Just my two cents...

[moparkie715 in reply to SewBears]

Thanks !

[SewBears in reply to moparkie715]

You’re welcome. I’m interested in knowing if you decide to try them out and how they workout for you.

[Hidden]

Larry started with a walking stick then a cane then a rollator and now a transit chair.

I am adding this. The rollator had 10 pounds of ankle weights on the bottom front bar of it to keep it from falling backwards.

[Inparadise]

My husband has PSP, and his PT said that a cane or walking sticks do not provide sufficient support, as patients tend to fall backwards. A walker is recommended.

[moparkie715 in reply to Inparadise]

Thanks for the heads up

[demlac]

My hubby used a quad stick , it’s like a cane but has four feet on the bottom!

Sadly this is no good now ,mine weeks ago he could walk, now he can’t even take a step and can’t stand so we use a lifter to get him out of his chair!!!

[moparkie715 in reply to demlac]

I am sorry to hear this.

[Hidden]

Yes, my husband tried them but found they didn’t help after awhile because he started falling backward.

[Tttp]

Hi walking poles even walkers are not a good idea with someone who has psp, as they fall back wards, good luck. Nettie

[AnneandChris in reply to Tttp]

Chris always falls to the left hand side, very rarely backwards. PSP throws up so many variations.

[moparkie715 in reply to Tttp]

Thanks

[Tttp]

Hi again yes I agree with a lot of patients having different symptoms with psp, for a short time my brother was falling to the side then backwards some can have a few some have it all, it progresses so fast, what they could do a month ago they can’t do it now, it’s been a nine year battle for my brother, so in a way have seen it all.

[10greenfingers]

I have Parkinson's and use poles as part of my exercise. I find it a great workout and feel more safe than when trying to jog. On wobbly days, I've considered using them for just getting around though I find organising them when not in use, ie on the train, is a bit stressful.