A walking stick is a tool used by many people to assist walking. Walking sticks come in many shapes and sizes, even leading some people to collect them. A modern hammer is directly descended from ancient hand tools A tool or device is a piece of equipment that most commonly provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task. ... Woman walking downstairs Walk redirects here. ...

Hemiplegic and balance-impaired persons use the stick to give them a better sense of the vertical position, thereby lessening vertigo. Without the stick, it is easy to walk at an angle, and perhaps not move in a straight line. The stick is held in the stronger hand. Hemiplegia is a condition where a vertical half of a patients body is paralyzed, i. ... A balance disorder is a disturbance that causes an individual to feel unsteady, giddy, woozy, or have a sensation of movement, spinning, or floating. ... Look up Vertigo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Muscle-weakened persons (with reduced strength or nerve action) need a stronger weight-bearing stick to take some of the load normally used by the afflicted leg. Canes are generally used in the hand opposite the injury or weakness. This may appear counter-intuitive, but this allows the cane to used for stability in a way that lets the user shift much of their weight onto the cane and away from their weaker side as they walk. Personal preference, or a need to hold the cane in their dominant hand means some cane users choose to hold the cane on their injured side[1]. Muscle weakness (or lack of strength) is the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individuals general physical fitness. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with left-handed. ...

Also serving this purpose are walkers, which are held in front of the user and allow the user to lean heavily on them. A walker is a tool for disabled people who need to lean on something to maintain balance or stability while walking. ...

Walking sticks are used by hikers for a wide variety of purposes: to clear spiderwebs, part thick bushes or grass obscuring the trail; as a support when going uphill or a brake when going downhill; as a balance point when crossing streams, swamps or other rough terrain; to feel for obstacles in the path; to test mud and puddles for depth; and as a defense against wild animals. A walking stick can be improvised from nearby felled wood. More ornate sticks are made for avid hikers, and are often adorned with small trinkets or medallions depicting "conquered" territory. Many beautiful natural scenes are only accessible if one is willing to hike to get to them. ... Spider web with morning dew enhancing its visibility. ... A broom shrub in flower A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 6 m tall. ... An area of grass-like plants Grass generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae, botanically regarded as true grasses. ... Some mud. ... A water puddle on a Danish beach A puddle is a small accumulation of a liquid, usually water, uncontained on a surface. ... A medallion is a piece of metal, usually carved or engraving, that is used as a medal, or worn on the body as a special symbol. ...

Accessories

• The most common accesory, before or after purchase or manufacture, is a hand strap, to prevent loss of the stick should the hand release its grip. These are often threaded through a hole drilled into the stick rather than tied around.

• A clip-on frame or similar device can be used to stand a stick against the top of a table.

• In cold climates, a metallic cleat may be added to the foot of the cane. This dramatically increases traction on ice. The device is usually designed so it can be easily flipped to the side to prevent damage to indoor flooring.

• Different handles are available to match grips of varying sizes.

• Rubber ferrules give extra traction on most surfaces.

• Nordic walking (ski walking) poles are extremely popular in Europe. Walking with two poles in the correct length radically reduces the stress to the knees, hips and back. These specail poles come with straps resembling a fingerless glove, durable metal tips for off-road and removable rubber tips for pavement and other hard surfaces. duh

This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... A glove (Middle English from Old English glof) is a type of garment which covers the hand. ...

See also

• Cane
• Nordic walking

A cane is a long, straight wooden stick, generally of bamboo, Malacca (rattan), or some similar plant, mainly used as a support, such as a walking stick or as an instrument of punishment. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

External links

• Walking-Stick Papers (Robert Cortes Holliday, 1918) - Project Gutenberg ebook
• Self-Defence with a Walking Stick (Pearson’s Magazine,January 1901)
• History Of English Walking Sticks
• Suggested cane technique
• How to measure a walking stick