How to Choose a Walking Stick for an Older Adult

What a walking stick actually does

A single stick does three things. It widens your base of support a little, so small wobbles are easier to correct. It lets you move some body weight through the arm instead of the leg, which helps when one hip, knee or ankle hurts. And it gives your brain extra information about the ground through the hand, which helps balance. Studies of walking aids consistently find that a stick can take roughly a fifth to a quarter of body weight off the opposite leg when used correctly, which is meaningful for arthritis but not enough for someone who cannot bear weight on a leg at all.

That last point matters. A stick is for a person who is mildly unsteady or has pain on one side. It is not enough for someone who needs to lean heavily, who has weakness on one side after a stroke, or who falls often. Those people usually need a quad stick, a frame or a rollator, and the right way to decide is a short assessment by a physiotherapist rather than a guess in a shop. If you are unsure whether your parent needs a stick or something more supportive, read our guide on choosing between a stick and a walker before you buy.

The main types of stick

Standard single-point stick. One shaft, one rubber tip, a handle. It is light, cheap and easy to carry, and it suits mild unsteadiness or pain in one joint. Most come in adjustable aluminium, with holes along the shaft and a push-button that locks the height.

Folding stick. The shaft breaks into three or four sections held by an internal cord. It fits into a handbag or the pocket of a car seat, which makes it the sensible choice for people who walk only outdoors, travel, or go to temples, weddings and clinics where they may want to put it away. Folding sticks are slightly less rigid than fixed ones, so check the joints are tight and do not rattle.

Quad stick. A stick with a small four-footed base that stands up on its own. It gives noticeably more stability than a single point and is often used after a stroke or injury. It is heavier, takes more space on a stair and works best on flat, even floors. Read the dedicated guide on quad sticks if your parent has weakness on one side.

Pivot-base stick. A single stick with a rubber base that tilts, so the whole foot stays flat on the floor even when the stick leans. It grips better on wet or uneven surfaces and suits people who find a normal stick slips when held at an angle. Our guide to pivot-base sticks explains who they suit.

Stick with a built-in torch. A bright LED in the handle lights the path for evening walks and dark corridors. It is useful for people who get up at night, though it should never replace proper lighting in the house.

Stick with a fold-out seat. A short stool that opens from the handle. It gives a rest stop on a walk but is less stable than a proper rollator seat, so it is for light use only.

Step one: measure the height

Height is the single most important setting, and it is the one most often wrong. To check it:

• Have your parent stand upright in their normal walking shoes with arms relaxed at the sides.
• The top of the handle should reach the crease of the wrist, the line where the hand meets the forearm.
• When they hold the handle, the elbow should be bent by about 20 to 30 degrees, roughly the angle of a relaxed arm.
• The shoulders should be level. If the shoulder on the stick side is hiked up, the stick is too long; if they stoop to reach it, it is too short.

A stick that is too long makes the wrist and shoulder work harder and pushes the elbow out, so the body tilts away from the stick. A stick that is too short forces a stoop and can strain the back. Because most families buy a stick in a shop or online, choose an adjustable one and set the height at home. The step-by-step method is in our guide to measuring and setting stick height.

Step two: choose the right side

A stick goes in the hand opposite the painful or weak leg. If the right knee hurts, the stick is held in the left hand. The reason is mechanical: when you step forward with the sore right leg, the stick comes forward at the same time and takes some of the load, just like a natural arm swing. Holding it on the same side as the sore leg makes the body lean the wrong way and often increases pain. If both legs are affected, the physiotherapist will usually choose the side based on which is worse or which hand is stronger.

Step three: pick a handle your hand can live with

The handle is where most discomfort comes from. The main options are:

• Crook or hook handle. The classic curve. It hangs over a forearm or a chair back, but the thin point of contact can press into the palm. Fine for light use.
• Offset handle. The shaft is set back from the grip, so the weight passes straight down through the line of the stick. It is more comfortable and more stable for people who lean on the stick, and it is usually the best general choice.
• Foam or soft-grip handle. A thicker, cushioned handle helps people with arthritis in the fingers or thumb who cannot close the hand tightly.
• Contoured or anatomical handle. Moulded to the palm; usually made in a left-hand or right-hand version, so make sure you buy the correct one.

Test the handle by holding it for a minute. It should sit comfortably in the palm without pressing on the base of the thumb, and the wrist should stay straight. If your parent has swollen or painful finger joints, try a thicker grip or wrap the handle in a soft covering, and ask an occupational therapist about other options.

Step four: check the shaft, weight and strength

Most adjustable sticks are aluminium, which is light and rust-proof. Check the following before you buy:

• Weight limit. Reputable sticks state a user weight capacity, commonly 100 to 136 kg. Choose one comfortably above your parent's weight, remembering that leaning on a stick puts more than body weight through it in a stumble.
• Locking button. The push-button should click fully through the hole and the shaft should not slide when you press down on it. Twist or collar locks should hold firmly.
• Weight of the stick. A heavy stick tires the arm. For most older adults a light aluminium stick is better than a solid wooden one, unless a wooden one has been cut to the right length and fitted with a strong tip.
• Wooden sticks. If the family has a beloved wooden stick, it can be cut to the right height by a carpenter and fitted with a rubber ferrule. A cut stick cannot be lengthened again, so measure twice.

Step five: do not ignore the tip

The rubber tip, called the ferrule, is the only part that touches the floor. A smooth, worn or cracked tip slips on tiles and polished stone, and a tip that is too small for the shaft can come off in use. When buying:

• Choose a wide, ribbed or concentric-ring tip that grips on wet surfaces.
• Make sure the tip is the right diameter for the shaft; most adjustable sticks take a 19 mm tip.
• Check the tip every week or two. When the pattern is worn down on one side, replace it. Spare tips cost very little and are worth keeping in the drawer.

Our guide to rubber tips covers when to replace them and how to fit them.

Matching the stick to the person

Different situations call for different features. Use these as starting points, then ask a physiotherapist to confirm.

• Knee or hip arthritis, mild unsteadiness. A standard adjustable stick with an offset or foam handle and a ribbed tip.
• Someone who travels or goes out often. A folding stick, light enough to stow, with a wrist strap.
• Someone who walks outdoors in the evening or at night. A stick with a torch, plus good house lighting.
• A person who slips on wet floors. A pivot-base stick.
• Weakness down one side, or after a stroke. A quad stick, which stands up by itself.
• A tall or short person. Check the height range of the model; some sticks do not extend far enough for very tall users.

Using the stick correctly

Even the best stick is dangerous if used the wrong way. The basics:

• Hold the stick on the side opposite the weak leg.
• Move the stick and the weak leg forward together, then step through with the stronger leg.
• On stairs, "up with the good, down with the bad": the stronger leg leads going up and the weaker leg leads coming down, with the stick moving with the weaker leg. Hold the handrail when there is one.
• Keep the stick close to the body and do not reach far ahead.
• Never lean the stick against a slippery wall where it can slide; keep a hook on the wall near the door.

Our separate guide on using a stick on stairs and slopes walks through the steps in order.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a stick without measuring. One size is not enough. Adjust it to the wrist crease.
• Using a stick on the wrong side. This is very common and worth correcting.
• Using a worn tip. Replace it before it becomes smooth.
• Choosing a stick that is too flimsy. Weight capacity and locking quality matter.
• Expecting a stick to fix severe unsteadiness. If your parent still falls or needs to hold furniture, move to a walker, as explained in our guide on when to move from a stick to a walker.
• Forgetting footwear. A good stick on a bad shoe still slips. See our note on shoes and walking aids.

What it costs and where to buy

A basic adjustable aluminium stick is among the cheapest pieces of mobility equipment. Folding, offset-handle, pivot and torch models cost more, and the price rises with build quality. The products listed below show the current price, or "price on request" where we quote on enquiry, and a care advisor can arrange delivery. Whatever you buy, keep the receipt and check that it is returnable if the height range or handle does not suit.

When to see a professional

See a doctor or physiotherapist rather than just buying a stick if your parent:

• has had a fall in the last few months, or is afraid of falling;
• feels dizzy or faint when standing;
• has sudden weakness, numbness or a changed way of walking;
• needs to hold furniture or walls as they move through the house; or
• has pain that wakes them at night or is getting worse.

A stick is a helpful tool, but unexplained unsteadiness can have treatable causes, including medicines, low blood pressure, eyesight, foot problems and neurological conditions.