Mobility Blog Part 3- The Difference Between The 3rd foot Cane And Traditional Canes and Walking Sticks
When young children are learning how to walk we tell them to keep their head upright and their line of sight towards the ground in the direction of movement and not down at the ground towards their feet. The only time we tell children to look down towards their feet when walking is when they’re using the stairs, in the dark, on a wet or slippery surface or when making a transition from one surface height to another. It’s good advice for people, young and old because it keeps the body aligned and moving the way it was designed to move to engage the core muscles and maintain or regain an upright stable walking gait.
The design of traditional canes and walking sticks make it impossible to maintain the body's natural alignment or a coordinated and balanced step, stride, and upright walking gait. To maintain balance when using a traditional cane or walking stick the top of the arm and hand must move away from the side of the body. Resulting in the body becoming unable to maintain a balanced, stable upright walking gait and its natural alignment. The head, line of sight, and the top of the spine become positioned forward and downward instead of staying upright, aligned and centered over the shoulders resulting in a stiff, stooped, unnatural length walking gait.
Each limb and its connecting joints and muscles work together with the spine to balance and stabilize the body's weight and alignment to execute movement. What happens to one limb affects and determines the strength and stability of the entire body. Rehabilitation of one limb without addressing the effect that an injury, weakness, or lack of mobility has to the entire body results in a suboptimal outcome and long-term consequences.
When the body maintains its natural alignment it maintains balance and engages and strengthens the core muscles with each step it takes.
The 3rd Foot Cane moves with the body with the arm next to the side and the cane and cane foot on the outside of the leg, supporting the body's upright posture and natural alignment. The cane foot is designed and Patented to move, pivot, and maintain balance and the body's stability from the back of the cane foot to the front of the cane foot like a foot. Allowing the head to stay upright and the body to maintain or regain its natural alignment with the feet contacting the ground from heel to toe.
Keeping your head upright and centered over your body with your feet contacting the ground from heel to toe and line of sight focused towards the ground in the direction you're walking allows you to move better, get stronger and walk longer.