jabblog: walking stick

Stick or cane?

What I call a walking stick is more accurately referred to as a cane, as Red from Hiawatha House pointed out, backed up by Anvil Cloud and Mad Snapper N Beau. My impression is that North Americans are inclined to call them canes. Mostly, I use walking poles, just to confuse matters.

I found this explanation: ‘ . . . although the words "walking stick" and "walking cane" are often used to mean the same thing . . . there can be distinctions between the two. A walking stick, especially one with a novelty handle, is designed more for use as a fashion accessory but may still provide some stability and balance whilst walking for shorter periods of times, while a walking cane is designed for regular everyday use as a mobility aid to support your full body weight and take the pressure off. ‘

I wanted to know the correct terminology for the anatomy of a walking aid. (See how neatly I avoided the problem of using the right label?)

There are four main parts to a walking cane: handle, collar, shaft and ferrule. The handle can take many forms. It may be a knob, which is not very comfortable for walking and is probably more for show, a carved head, an ergonomic design, or a crook, with many variations in between.

This one is a simple Derby handle on my decades-old folding walking stick.

Ergonomic handle (right hand)

The collar hides the joint between the handle and the shaft, strengthening the bond. Sometimes the collar is intricately decorated.

Adjustable shaft on my carbon walking pole

The shaft is the length of the cane from handle to ferrule. It may be made from any strong, load-bearing material, from beechwood to carbon fibre and many materials besides. The length of the shaft is important: too short and the walker will stoop, too tall and the user may suffer neck and shoulder problems.

Rubber ferrule

On the end of the shaft is the ferrule, which may be rubber or metal, and adapted for different surfaces. A spiked ferrule is useful in rough terrain, but dangerous on polished floors. A rubber ferrule provides peace of mind and stability on a slippery surface. For further stability, a user may opt for a tripod or tetrapod stick.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Sticks come in many guises, from the everyday aid to the ceremonial.

The shepherd’s crook was a useful tool as well as a defensive weapon. The curved hook was used to help in recovering animals from danger, catching them by the neck or leg. As a sturdy support, it aided the shepherd in his travels across sometimes rough ground, and provided him with a useful stave to fend off predators.

In the form of a bishop’s crozier, it has been used by high-ranking religious leaders to symbolise the leadership and pastoral care of their congregation or ‘flock.’ A crozier is traditionally much taller than a shepherd’s crook, perhaps to be more readily seen by the congregation.

Some countryside walkers opt for thumb sticks. These are made from woods like hazel and have a v-shaped section of wood or antler in which to slot the thumb.

Another form of stick is the shooting stick, which combines a folding seat with a walking stick. It is a useful for short-term seating at outdoor events, or to provide a swift perch when out walking and needing a rest.

An Irish walking stick is called a shillelagh. It is often made from blackthorn and is a traditional symbol of Irish heritage and a formidable weapon, though not principally used as such in modern times.

Modern sword sticks, a hollow walking stick concealing a sharp blade, are considered offensive weapons and it is illegal to carry them in public, although antique examples are exempt, which is odd, as even an old blade can be sharpened and used for nefarious means.

It is important that any walking or trekking stick is the appropriate height for the user. Many modern sticks are adjustable, but those in which the shaft is made from a single piece of wood must be tailored to the user.

Some sticks are foldable and a useful alternative for people who need to use a walking stick only occasionally.

Elbow crutches