The embarrassment is absolutely understandable. So is the reason for it.
If you have felt embarrassed to use a walking stick, you are not imagining things. The discomfort is not irrational. It is a reasonable response to decades of walking stick design that communicated 'medical device' rather than 'personal choice.'
Most sticks are built for institutions. They are designed to be durable in supply rooms and easy to sterilise. Other than hand made sticks, general purpose walking sticks were not designed to make the person holding them feel good about themselves. That is not a small omission.
Where walking stick stigma comes from
The association between mobility aids and decline is cultural, not inevitable. In many parts of the world, a cane is a mark of authority and style. The walking stick has a long history as an accessory carried by choice, not necessity.
Somewhere along the way, particularly in the 20th century, the walking stick became medicalised. It moved from the accessory drawer to the pharmacy shelf. And with that move came a set of associations that are hard to shake. It's such a shame, the style of walking sticks with a beautiful suit is absolutely timeless and we think they're still a stylish accessory.
When people feel embarrassed to use a walking stick, they are usually responding to the clinical cane and feel overwhelmed and out of options.
Pride and mobility aids
There is a difference between using a mobility aid and accepting decline. A walking stick, used correctly and early enough, can prevent the falls that cause the injuries that cause the decline people are trying to avoid.
People who walk regularly with good support stay mobile longer. That is well documented. The embarrassment of the object can become the thing that accelerates what the person fears.
Changing how you feel about the object matters and it's what keeps us going. We want to see people staying independent, embracing their new walking aid and staying mobile as long as possible.
The design solution
Walking stick stigma is partly a design problem. If the object itself looks different, the associations shift.
The ooak Uno is a walking stick made for people who know good design. Responsibly sourced hardwood, recycled plastics in considered colours, an ergonomic handle that puts your wrist in the right position. It does not look like something from a medical supply room because it was not designed for one.
Our customers get asked all the time where they got their stick from. Not because it looks the same as every other pharmacy walking stick, but because it's stocked at some of the most design forward fashion stores and galleries in the country.
If you or someone you love has been putting off using a stick because of how it looks or what it seems to say: start with the object. Find one you would actually want to carry. The more you use it, the better you'll feel.
Ready to find yours? Check out the range now.
