{"id":325,"date":"2014-04-09T16:59:36","date_gmt":"2014-04-09T23:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debbiepetrina.authorsxpress.com\/?p=325"},"modified":"2014-04-09T16:59:36","modified_gmt":"2014-04-09T23:59:36","slug":"unsteadt-gait-time-for-a-cane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/?p=325","title":{"rendered":"Unsteady Gait: Time for a Cane?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThoughts and Choices\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>
\nApril 9, 2014<\/p>\n

Many people with MS will begin to experience walking problems due to emerging symptoms like balance, coordination, fatigue and weakness. The typical first type of walking aid is a cane.<\/p>\n

The thought of using a cane can be difficult. Some believe they are \u201cgiving in\u201d to MS. Others think it makes them feel or look old. Or, that a cane makes one \u201cstick out\u201d and draws attention to them.<\/p>\n

People who think this way need a positive perspective, from somebody who has \u201cbeen in their shoes.\u201d Using a cane:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Is accepting<\/em> MS and its gait problems, not giving into it.
\n\u2022 Helps keep you walking, reducing fatigue and improving posture.
\n\u2022 Is a safety net against falls and injuries.
\n\u2022 Draws no more attention to you than a wobbly gait or drunk-like walk.
\n\u2022 Transfers an \u201cinvisible\u201d symptom into \u201cvisible\u201d one. (A BIG benefit for MSers!)
\n\u2022 Can actually give you a classy, distinguished look!<\/p>\n

We use eyeglasses to help us see, so why not use canes to help us walk? When I began using a cane at the age of thirty, I learned all of these things. At that time 28 years ago, I was able to find four different kinds of canes to match my outfits and walk with style.<\/p>\n

Now there is a terrific website called Walking Canes\u00a0http:\/\/www.walking-canes.net\/multiplesclerosisandgait.html<\/a> .\u00a0There are oodles of styles, colors, types and accessories to choose from. This site also has an MS Guide, researched and written by Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, a well-respected and experienced physician.<\/p>\n

So check it out, and also check out a previous post I wrote entitled \u201cMS and Walking Problems\u201d http:\/\/debbiepetrina.authorsxpress.com\/?p=122<\/a> .<\/span><\/p>\n

A final note: If this is your first cane purchase, it is important you talk with a physical therapist or qualified health professional to show you how to properly walk with a cane and how it should be adjusted to fit your physique.<\/p>\n

Debbie Petrina
\nAuthor\/Counselor\/Living with MS
\nwww.DebbieMS.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThoughts and Choices\u201d April 9, 2014 Many people with MS will begin to experience walking problems due to emerging symptoms like balance, coordination, fatigue and weakness. The typical first type of walking aid is a cane. The thought of using … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,19],"tags":[69,87,107,121,126,134,247,302,379,380,385,401,405,410,411,412],"class_list":["post-325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disability-equipment","category-gaitwalking-problems","tag-balance-prpblems","tag-cane-styles","tag-coordination-problems","tag-dizzness","tag-drop-foot","tag-fatigue","tag-ms-gait-problems","tag-ms-walking-problems","tag-spasticity","tag-staggering","tag-stiffness","tag-types-of-canes","tag-unsteady-gait","tag-walking-aids","tag-walking-canes","tag-weakness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debbiepetrina.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}