Walking Stick

[Guest guest]

Sheila:

Fisher recommended the Leki Walking stick. We found the lowest cost

one at $69 to be the Leki Sierra with triple spring action. It is a great

stick with fully adjustable length.

I have copied an earlier message of his below your message below.

Message: 5

Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 16:06:36 -0000

Subject: walking stick

I remember someone recommending a walking stick ... I think Eastern

Mountain Sports - can someone tell me which model or the info to

look for ... thx

sheila

Message: 3

Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 18:34:04 -0500

Subject: RE: Hiking Staff Expereince

Greetings !

I certainly understand (bruises and all) how Terry feels. Learning how to

continue with mobility is very important to maintain mobility. (Use it or

loose it!) So, it's good to hear that both of you are being proactive about

this.

I did LOTS of research before I settled on the idea of a hiking staff. One

thing I quickly learned is that a cane actually thrusts your center of

balance forward. This is not good if you have balance problems!

However, due to my love of hiking I learned from BackPacker magazine and

internet research that a hiking staff helps maintain balance by keeping the

center of balance.

>From the same research I also discovered the joys of a hiking staff that

includes an antishock feature. Since I stumble and fall, I tend to suddenly

put a LOT of force into the hiking staff. This can be very painful for my

arms. But the shock absorber (actually built into the inside of the unit)

absorbs most of that shock. Rather like a scaled back pogo stick! Sounds

strange, but it works. Again, from the hiking world some researchers are

finding this reduces the impact of walking by about 25 to 33%.

Some sites that might help include Leki (as you noted):

http://www.leki.com/trek/travel.html

I have and use their Sierra A.S. unit. The one I have also has a camera

mount system built into it. Nice touch, but certainly not needed. The two

most important features are (in order) the straight staff and the antishock

system.

The Sierra Trading Post can be reached at:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

And of course there is REI at:

http://www.rei.com/

Gear Shop ... Camp/Hike ... Time/Tools/GPS/Optics ... Hiking Staffs/Trekking

Poles ... Walking Staffs ... leads you to their selection.

Remember, no 'handles' as with a cane. The intent is to keep the arm so it

forms a 90 degree angle at the elbow. Then the hand grasps the grip of the

staff and forms another 90 degree angle. This helps keep balance aligned.

Oh, another gotcha! It takes time to learn to walk with a hiking staff. If

I remember correctly, it took me a couple of months (at least) before I felt

comfortable with my hiking staff. Frequent practice also helps maintain

mobility and balance. A good outcome!

When my balance gets very bad, I shift to hiking poles (two instead of one).

It allows me to function when a walking staff is not enough. I think my

next step will be a wheelchair. When things get too active around me, I

loose all sense of position in space. So, I do not think a walker would

work for me. Not only does it thrust my balance forward, but when I get

overwhelmed sitting is the only option.

Anyway, I ramble. But hopefully it will help you as you help guide

Terry toward something that will help her adjust and adapt.

Regards,

=jbf=

Sennewald Charlottesville, Virginia

[Guest guest]

Greetings Sheila!

I see that helped provide a copy of my previous email. The important

thing I find (in using my own walking staff) is that (a) it needs to be

adjustable, and ( it really should have some shock absorption.

The adjustable size allows me to 'shrink' the size down to something I can

safely stow away while I am at a restaurant. I also can set it either to a

cane size (and use it as such), or set it to staff size. When I use it as a

cane, it is not as extended as high, and allows me to use it only to help me

keep track of where I am in space. When I use it as a staff, I tend to have

more balance problems, and want to keep my elbow at a 90 degree angle when

holding the staff. Why that? It helps drive my balance back toward my

body. When I need to lean against the staff, I do so WITHOUT moving my

center of balance. This is very important. It has helped me avoid falls

more than once.

The ability to absorb shock helps me feel comfortable to REALLY use it.

Though I fall some, I am more inclined to really use the staff to thrust

toward the ground to avoid a major spill. It is painful in the arm and

shoulder to stab at the ground with a staff that does not yield. With the

shock absorption I do it much more willingly.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

=jbf=

B. Fisher

[Guest guest]

Greetings Sheila!

I see that helped provide a copy of my previous email. The important

thing I find (in using my own walking staff) is that (a) it needs to be

adjustable, and ( it really should have some shock absorption.

The adjustable size allows me to 'shrink' the size down to something I can

safely stow away while I am at a restaurant. I also can set it either to a

cane size (and use it as such), or set it to staff size. When I use it as a

cane, it is not as extended as high, and allows me to use it only to help me

keep track of where I am in space. When I use it as a staff, I tend to have

more balance problems, and want to keep my elbow at a 90 degree angle when

holding the staff. Why that? It helps drive my balance back toward my

body. When I need to lean against the staff, I do so WITHOUT moving my

center of balance. This is very important. It has helped me avoid falls

more than once.

The ability to absorb shock helps me feel comfortable to REALLY use it.

Though I fall some, I am more inclined to really use the staff to thrust

toward the ground to avoid a major spill. It is painful in the arm and

shoulder to stab at the ground with a staff that does not yield. With the

shock absorption I do it much more willingly.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

=jbf=

B. Fisher