Hiking poles BETTER than walker or Canes? 

I'm 78 yrs old and used to use a cane. I switched to walking sticks about six months ago and find that I actually walking again. I have back pain that has lessened considerably.

I'm surprised more physical therapists don't recommend the walking stick over a cane. Often times, it seems to me, the walker is too low; a person shouldn't be stooped using walker yet notice how many are stooped. Again, physical Therapists inattentive.

Due to bad knees primarily on the right side, for the past 6 odd years, I've had to use a cane. 4 odd years ago, I adapted to hiking poles, and I absolutely love my hiking poles. Look for hiking poles that offer clamp lockdowns, as they are more stable. As the ones that twist lock, can suddenly untwist (open) and suddenly shrink down on you. Which is not a good thing. I especially love that the poles, allow me to walk that tiny bit faster. I feel like I can walk the way I used to 10-odd years ago. Canes always caused back aches for me, due to side leaning. Using two hiking poles in the winter, or for longer walks helps a lot. Even using just one hiking pole, is helpful for everyday errands, and shorter walks. As you stand straighter, walk with a straighter posture, which is good for the back. As recommended in one other comment. For the ladies, who use hiking poles, on a daily basis. It's better to use a backpack or a sling backpack, as your main purse. It's just too cumbersome to carry a shoulder purse, with the hiking poles, as the purse often gets in your way. The same rule applies if someone uses hiking poles for a hike or long walk, carry a backpack/sling backpack for your water needs. A Good basic introduction video on the comparison of different mobility aids for people with various balance, stability, or mobility issues. Everyone is different, so if a walker offers you more stability, then that's what you use. Hiking poles got me out walking daily again, a good thing. Hiking poles come with different end attachments for different weather or surfaces. Boot end, paw end (my personal everyday favorite) snow attachments, or sand attachments, as well as the ice picks. Plus, hiking poles can shrink down to a size easy to carry. Thank you for the video.

Love my walking sticks. I can walk much faster. Use them to walk in the neighborhood and parks, at the beach, good for uneven surfaces.

I love my hiking poles! They've saved me a couple of times, stumbling on rough ground, they provide that bit of extra confidence when my legs get painful, and I do feel that I can walk properly, just using the poles for a bit of extra balance. And they don't make me feel old and disabled the way a cane or walker would! The main downside for me is that you can't carry anything in your hands. Not a difficult fix - a backpack or cross-body bag is probably better anyway. But sometimes it can be a nuisance.

Good video. I'm 79. I walk 3 to 10 miles every day on the bad sidewalks of Oaxaca Mx. I occasionally use trekking poles when I plan to be in challenging areas. When I am going to be going on steep paths or stairs without rails I always try to have the trekking poles. I first used them 5 years ago hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Balance is not a problem on the flat, but stairs scare me! First rule of longevity - Hang onto the hand rails! Thank you for your videos.

Also I am 90+ years of age,which I like to point out,and I have no plans to stop walking ,even with my scoliosis so the poles are my choice. LK from Canada. ❤❤❤😊😊😊

Hi I now use “hiking poles “ , which I find to be great ,the one thing you didn’t point out , is that to go hiking the only device there would be the poles,also side walks are not allways even,therefore hanging on to a walker is very in that situation is very difficult and a cause for concern. I feel much more confident with my poles,especially on rough surfaces. Hiking poles are not suitable to use when going shopping at the malls !, unless you are going to use a backpack. LK from Canada ❤❤😊😊

Very informative video, thanks. I love hiking poles for hiking, but I would feel a little silly walking around town with them. There is a learning curve to them too. 🙂 I will be happy to adopt a cane or walker when I need one, though.

Wish you had shown someone walking on a street with hiking poles. We don’t all walk in snow as you show on this video. Just saying

I use walking poles outside and they have changed my life. They offer me stability and I feel so much safer walking my dog. Woods have many trips !

Heal, improve your gait. After being sedentary, an injury, surgery, use any or all of these to regain a proper gait. Walking with a poor gate neurophysiologically reinforces it, can make it permanent.

Disappointed. I understand in a 10 minute video that you can't address everything. However not even mentioning or addressing the hundreds of thousands of people or more who have a disability on one side or a weakness say from a stroke hemiparesis or brain injury, is potentially causing an accident in the case of someone without a grip trying to use a walker normally for two good hands or two walking poles were they can all use something on one side or the or the other I think many people would be interested in your expertise on how disabled people with one side of weakness say from hemiparesis or other can walk best😢

That video with the couple demonstrates the exact wrong way to use the poles...the girl is putting the poles down at the same time not alternatively

I think, there's more to it than that. Canes can be stylish, depending on construction. Trekking poles might look stylish outside in the wilderness or in the park, but less so inside or on a street, and are rarely seen as dapper like canes can be. Also, trekking pole usage is often not supportive since they are often used in a trailing fashion for Nordic walking in a skiing fashion for stability instead of directly underneath for weight bearing. Additionally, trekking poles have to be gripped vertically while a cane is gripped horizontally, making the load transfer more difficult and painful for someone with wrist pain, and while this can be helped with the proper use of straps, it's a hassle. Also, you can still carry something in your other hand with a single cane, or put it in a basket with some walkers, but you can't readily carry anything while using two trekking poles unless it's strapped to your back, belt, vest, or in a pocket.

I’m 76 who had Patella surgery. The walker has one major problem that the non wheeled portion wears out and really only good around the house. When I compared a cane with trekking poles it was a non brainer. The poles are much better, safer, and more natural.

I guess other variables might include differences in right and left hand strength and whether you carry a purse

Are Jetti poles more stable…..you can also order them to height size. Im thinking of getting them…..have poles.dont like them. I’ve tripped over my poles. I walk faster on my own. I stretch as i walk as I have lower back pain on one side and scoliosis. Yes it’s a little embarrassing….but shouldn’t care really.

This video overlooks the obvious: the walking surface dictates which tool is best. A walker is only suitable on a smooth (paved) surface. Poles are suitable on paved surfaces only if they have non-slip tips. And how do the tools perform on ramps and stairs?

I'm 74 years old and am recovering from surgery on a broken leg (femur). I've gone from using a walker to a walking stick. My problem is that I will mistep while using the stick and have to stop and get back into position to continue walking. I am only able to walk for 4 minutes before I feel exhausted and need to sit down. I'm getting physical therapy to strengthen my muscles used in walking but I'm not seeing much improvement no matter how much I'm exercising. Is there something else I can do so I can walk unassisted again?

Trekking pole footage was really bad (couple hiking in the fog). They are not really benefiting from the poles and there are no wrist straps to take the load of the push at all on those poles! The strap should be positioned between the palm and the grip and go over the back of the hand (hand stuck through the strap from below), this way the grip needs to be squeezed hardly at all and the load is on the hand withou much effort. Also if falling down just by releasing the hand the pole drops hanging by the strap and out of the way.

Thank you for this excellent video with very useful information and demonstrating the use of various walking assistive devices.

I need to get used to hiking poles , I dont know how to coordinate my hands and feet using them . Am I the only one having this problem?. I apreciate a feedback.

Very helpful thank you 😊

Thanks for all the great videos, especially on proprioception exercises. I have just ordered some treking poles, and I wonder if using them will somehow negatively effect my proprioception? (I'm hoping to use them to improve my walking to a point where I no longer need them. )

This is great information. I bought trekking poles over a year ago, and this week, a cane because I thought it might help me on stairs. I'm still figuring it out. Not using either outside because, well, you know.

Thanks for sharing 😊 And God 💕🙏❤️ Bless U

Thanks for the awesome information I needed hear this ❤