Using a walking stick as an assistive device is beneficial in many ways. It supports individuals who lack balance, ensuring their stability when walking. Walking canes also allow users to bear less weight by shifting some of their weight to the tool. Hence, users can stand for a longer time and walk further distances. Most importantly, it ensures their safety when walking, knowing that mobility issues make an individual more likely to fall. However, using a walking cane benefit is not limited to assisting mobility-challenged individuals. They also help mitigate specific issues affecting mobility, including hip pain. 

 

Hip Pain

 

One of the most common issues that affect mobility is hip pain. It is a pain felt in or around the hip joint. Not only does it cause discomfort, but it also compromises one’s day-to-day activities–even the simplest task. Also, hip pain can be a symptom of serious problems, including kidney issues and arthritis.  If the cause of your hip pain is unknown, it is best to consult a hip pain professional. 

 

Causes of Hip Pain

 

Many issues and conditions can cause hip pain. While most hip pains occur for a definite period, some hip pain cases are long-term and manifest severe medical issues early.  To diagnose the cause of hip pain, locating where the pain is exactly coming from is a crucial step. 

 

The following are the most common causes of hip pain. 

  • Inflammation of a tendon. Tendons are thick cords that connect bones to the muscle. If the hip tendon becomes inflamed, it causes mild to severe hip pain that affects your mobility. Hip pain caused by an inflamed tendon is diagnosed as hip tendonitis. Its treatment focuses on reducing the inflammation of the tendon to alleviate hip pain. 


  • Arthritis. The most common cause of long-term hip pain is arthritis. Hip arthritis occurs when one or more of your joints swell due to tearing off. Not only is it painful, but it also can cause stiffness and limp. Arthritis also affects your ability to walk. Arthritis treatment includes taking medication and therapy that focuses on mitigating joint pain and improving the joints’ condition and function. 


  • Hip Fractures. As human ages, bones, including hip bones and joints, become relatively weaker and more brittle. Simple mishaps like slipping off a surface may lead to hip fractures that are painful and stiff. 


  • Hip dislocation. Due to collision or high impact fall, the hip joint is pushed out of the socket. This dislocation of the joints in your hips is not only painful but can also lead to several serious issues.

 

Can I use walking Canes for Hip Pain?

 

Suffering from hip pain is a grueling thing. Because of the pain stimulated even from the littlest movement, your time-to-time tasks is being compromised. And also, with hip pain, you can’t walk around whenever you want since it is a bit tricky to roam. However, some tools can assist you in walking around and doing your essential task. If you want to know whether a walking cane can help hip pain, the answer is Yes!

 

Using a walking cane to walk around while you’re with hip pain is beneficial in many ways. The following are the benefits of using a walking cane for hip pain. 

  • Ensures Safety. Hip pain also affects your balance. Hence, using an assistive device that can add stability to your movement, like a walking cane, is beneficial. It improves balance and helps avoid mishaps while walking, like falling. With that being said, a walking cane also helps prevent making the hip pain condition worse due to accidents.


  • Optimizes Recovery. Since hip pain is commonly caused by injury or inflammation on the joints, reducing the pressure and weight from the affected side is a helpful practice. With a walking cane, users ensure the optimal recovery of the injured side of the hip. Walking cane allows the user to transfer most of the weight pressure to the cane while improving their balance and stability.

 

  • Independence. One of the worst consequences of having hip pain is the inability to do things unassisted most of the time. However, with a walking stick with you, you can go from place to place independently and safely. 

 

  • Reduces pain. By itself, pain hip is already painful. But with added pressure due to movement, the pain can be more aggravating. Thus, ensuring that the injured side of your hip is not receiving too much pressure helps reduce the pain. A walking stick, if used correctly, ensures to reduce pressure and weight on the injured side. 

How to Use Walking Canes for Hip Pain Properly?

 

Knowing that using a walking cane is of help for hip pain is not enough. It is also crucial to know how to use the walking cane properly.  To ensure that your walking cane will help than harm, using the cane correctly is essential. Improper walking with a walking cane is useless and may also put the user to greater harm. Here are some helpful tips for using your walking canes properly for hip pain. 

 

  1. Ensure the fit of the walking cane. An unfit walking cane is uncomfortable to use and may also put the user in danger. Also, it will only put the user in tremendous pain due to posture issues while using an unfit walking stick. 
  2. Hold the walking cane opposite to the injured side. 
  3. Move the cane forward at the same time you step the leg on your affected side. 
  4. Check if the cane tip is still intact. Worn-out tips are slippery, which may put the user in danger. 
  5.  When stepping down on stairs, move your cane first, followed by the affected legs, then your unaffected legs. 
  6. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance whenever needed. 

 

Takeaway

 

Hip pains are uncomfortable and compromising. It affects our day-to-day tasks and has a huge impact on our mobility. However, walking aids like walking canes are a great assistive device that alleviates some of your troubles due to hip pain. Most importantly, such tools ensure your safety even when you’re unattended. However, using walking canes is only an early treatment and aid for hip pain. It is still best and recommended to consult a hip pain specialist for a professional hip pain diagnosis and effective treatment.

If you plan to buy a walking aid for hip pain, AvaCare Medical is the best place to be. They offer quality and cost-effective medical equipment supplies, including walking canes and more assistive devices. Visit www.avacaremedical.com for more information.