Hiking Backpack Zone

Posts Tagged ‘elderly’

Around the 17th and 18th century the wardrobe of the gentleman in Europe went through somewhat of a change. A staff or stick became part of their wardrobe, as a matter of fact it replaced their sword. It was actually a substitution.

Walking sticks today are more like a device to assist people when they are walking helping them to balance themselves. There are several styles and sizes of walking sticks and they are even sought after by collectors.

Walking sticks also known as hiking poles or trekking poles or they are even known as pilgrim’s staffs. They are used by hikers for many reasons, for one they are used when walking to clear out spiderwebs or thick brush. They are used to support themselves going up a hill and even used going down a hill as a brake. Another use is to balance themselves while going across a stream, mud puddle and they are even used to defend off any wild animal they may encounter.

Canes walking sticks are used in North America with a curved top and looks much like a candy cane but longer. They are crafted from a heavy metal or wood. In the U.S. a lot of our presidents have received them as a gift. George Washington received one from Benjamin Franklin and you can see it in the Smithsonian. The cane is beautiful, it features a gold handle and its in the form of an Phrygia cap. These days most of the time walking sticks are only seen when a person is wearing formal attire.

Collectors are always seeking new, old or novel canes. They’re even searching for canes that are Retractable or have hidden compartments. Collectible canes with compartments that are concealed were used back in the day to hold a flask of alcohol. These typed of canes were known as Tippling Canes.

Canes walking sticks are virtually used today to offer stabilization of the individual using it. It is generally used in the hand opposite the weakness or injury. This allows anyone to shift as much weight as possible away from the weak side. However some do use the cane on the injured side.

A little story that happened in our congress one day years ago…

In a violent episode inside the U.S. Congress, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts called Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois a “noisome squat and nameless animal” and brutally insulted Andrew Butler of South Carolina for a congenital deformity. Now Preston Brooks a relative heard this, he thought Sumner’s behavior merited lower than a duel so he took his walking stick and beat him senseless to the floor of the Senate. Although this event is often generally known as “the caning of Senator Charles Sumner”, it was not caning as we know it (esp. British) sense of the formal punishment when a more flexible and thinner rattan was used.

There are many kinds of canes, here listed below are just a few.

* White canes are mainly used for the blind or visually impaired. There color and style alert others of a impairment for the user. It seems they are made longer and thinner so whomever using it is able to feel there way around.

* The type that are adjustable have telescoping shafts, this allows the user to lengthen or shorten the cane as needed when walking.

* Folding canes generally have several joints, they are connected together by an internal elastic cord, this permits them to shorten the length when they are not being used.

* The canes used for more stability are called Quad Canes, they have four legs and help the user to balance themselves while walking or standing.

The elderly and even the younger people with disabilities need canes walking sticks to get around. They are not use to much today as a type of fashionable item hooked to our arm. However to those who need them they provide a great service and allow the people using them to be able to do things that without the canes they could not and would be at a disadvantage.

Learn more about Canes walking sticks. Stop by Bob Dull’s site where you can find out all about Walking canes sticks and what it can do for you.