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Posted by Mike Phipps on October 7, 2022
Autumn is a great time to get out and about, and there's no better way to do it than by adding a walk into your daily life routine.
Walking is a great way to exercise, enjoy the fresh air and take in the autumnal scenery. But if you're living with a disability or have mobility issues, getting out for a walk can sometimes be a real challenge. That's where Ability Superstore can help make your everyday life easier with some great independent living aids.
A range of walking aids can help and support you when you walk. In this blog, we're going to discuss rollators that are designed to help you walk with ease and walking sticks that provide good, solid support.
It's always a good idea to talk with your doctor, occupational therapist, or healthcare professional before starting any new exercise.
Autumn is a beautiful season. The leaves on the trees are changing colour and it doesn't get dark until quite late. You can enjoy the lovely bird sounds, smell all the different scents in the air, and it's the perfect time to explore and discover new areas where you live.
Autumn is the ideal time to start incorporating some exercise into your life, and walking is the ideal exercise, as you can stick to a time frame that works for you.
A great way to enjoy and make the most of the walk, and take in this wonderful season, is by walking in the early morning or late afternoon. This is when the light is best for photographs and selfies.
Walking can be a low-impact activity, making it an excellent choice for those recovering from an injury or joint pain.
Walking is easier on the joints and tendons than some other activities. It's also a great way to get fit and build up endurance, as you can slowly increase the amount of time that you walk over a time that works for you.
Walking is also a great way to enjoy and appreciate the crisp, cool autumnal air and spend quality time outside – a relaxing way to unwind and get away from the stresses of life.
You will also find that walking gives you back some 'me time' and allows you to spend quality time with your friends and family. It's a way to break up your daily routine, learn more about the area where you live, and maybe make some new friends, too.
The best way to start walking is to take small steps, literally. You don't want to push yourself too hard and risk injury. If you've not walked regularly before, starting slowly is essential.
If you are new to regular walking, aim to walk for five minutes at a time and build up from there. Increase the length of your walks as and when you feel you can – it's important to ensure you don't push yourself too hard.
Why not look into getting a fitness tracker and maybe sign up for a walking challenge? Both of these are great ways to stay motivated.
If you're going for a walk, you need to wear comfortable shoes.
It's best to avoid wearing any type of sandals or flip-flops, as they don't offer much support, and you definitely need to avoid anything with heels.
Instead, try and get yourself a pair of walking shoes. They will be comfortable, and importantly, they will offer more support for your feet.
You should always break in a pair of shoes before using them for an extended time. This will help you avoid blisters and sore rubbing points.
If you're walking in cold weather, you should wear some warm clothing. Think about wearing a jumper and a coat, as well as some waterproof gear like a waterproof jacket. This will protect your body from the elements and keep you warm, dry and comfortable.
When walking in warm weather, it's best to wear lightweight and breathable clothing. Just ensure you're not wearing anything too tight or restrictive, as this can make walking more difficult.
It's also a good idea to wear a hat in warm weather, as this can keep your head cool.
For warm and cold weather, you should aim for layers of clothes, so you can adjust your clothing as your walk progresses and remain comfortable at all times.
Walking with a friend or family member can be a great way to make the most of your walk and enjoy the experience even more. It also means you will have someone with you if you need help.
If you're planning to walk in an unfamiliar area, you should try to plan your route before you set off. This will help prevent you from getting lost, and you can work out the distance simultaneously to avoid walking too far.
There are many smartphone apps and websites available where you can plot your walk and work out the entire distance.
There are also a few apps designed for people with a disability that will help you find a walk that suits your specific needs.
It's always a good idea to carry some essentials with you – money, your identification, a mobile phone, water and some high-energy snacks. These items will help to ensure that you're prepared in case of an emergency.
There are a lot of great places to walk in autumn. One of our favourite spots is the local park. They're beautiful during autumn and are often less crowded than in other seasons.
How about planning a stop at a café for a cup of coffee, tea or squash, or something more substantial should you need it? Or how about a walk along a waterway? You could find out more about your local neighbourhood, too. You could plan a visit to a nearby town or city and include a museum or a historic site into your walk, so you can split the walk up and make it more manageable and enjoyable.
If you need some support when walking, we at Ability Superstore sell a vast range of mobility aids that will help you keep your independence. Two different aids that can help are rollators and walking sticks.
Rollators are a great way of getting out and about when you have limited mobility. They're available as both indoor and outdoor models.
Nowadays, rollators are stylish and fashionable – long gone are the days when they were clunky and uncomfortable.
There are many different features on these mobility aids that can make a big difference to your time outside, such as shopping bags and seats. There is also a vast range of accessories. Click here to see some of the accessories available.
If you have reasonably good mobility, walking sticks can be a great support when you're out and about. They come in a multitude of different designs, colours and patterns, so you can easily choose one that matches your sense of style and personality.
This wheeled walker – the Let's Go Out – comes in black and silver or beige and silver.
Thanks to its shock-absorbing suspension, this mobility aid is simple to manoeuvre over any ground. It also climbs curbs thanks to the large front wheels.
When out and about, the rear wheel fenders protect your clothes from getting dirty and prevent splash back when going through puddles or walking across wet, muddy terrain.
The Let's Go Out stylish design has no visible wires and has ergonomically designed rubber handles that adjust in height from 77 to 95 cm (30 inches to 37.4 inches), so you can make it exactly the right height for you.
The parking brake is simple to operate, making this rollator ideal for people with arthritis or limited hand dexterity.
To close the rollator, you simply lift the seat from the middle and release the lock under the seat. To unfold the rollator, just press the seat downwards. Once folded, the Let's Go Out Rollator is only 20 cm (7.9 inches) across, so it's very portable and easy to put into a car or on a bus.
The seat is made from tough, water-resistant artificial leather.
The Let's Move rollator is an innovative, stylish and functional mobility aid.
This rollator has a strong aluminium frame that makes it simple to use – it's also lightweight and is simple to fold for transport or storage, thanks to its clever cross-folding design.
The handles can be adjusted between 78 and 93 cm (30.7 and 36.6 inches), so you can change the height and have them at exactly the correct height for you. There are also easy-to-use brakes on the ergonomically designed handles, allowing you to lock them quickly for safety when sitting on the built-in seat.
A backrest strap can be purchased separately for additional support for the Let's Move.
You'll probably need a break when you get back from your walk. So, how about enjoying a meal, or a cup of tea and some biscuits in front of the TV?
The Let's Dream rollator is designed for indoor use. It has a contemporary design and moves effortlessly from one room to the next.
A sturdy tray is included on this daily living mobility aid that you can quickly remove when required. It can be used for placing your plates or cups and glasses on, or you can put your favourite book on it while reading. You can also use the Let's Dream rollator for transporting items around the house.
Some wheeled walkers like this rollator trolley include a handy and roomy basket that can store your phone, glasses, and pens.
The Let's Dream rollator can be used in the smallest areas, such as corridors and small kitchens.
Walking sticks come in a huge variety of designs, handles and patterns, as well as folding versions and non-folding types. Whether you desire a fashion cane to make a statement or just want a little extra support, we have everything you need.
Choosing the right mobility aid can be tricky, so we've provided a helpful guide to assist you – How To Choose A Walking Stick – just click here to read it.
You may also need a little more support than a one cane walking stick can offer, so if you click here, you'll find a variety of other support walking aids like a Zimmer frame and other mobility aids that will help you to walk independently.
Ability Superstore is proud to carry the popular Classic Canes collection of high-end walking sticks that offer a little more than standard walking sticks other retailers might sell.
There is a large selection – from stylish petite canes to traditional wooden walking sticks to contemporary, playful walking canes; we have something for everyone. Click here to see the range.
These walking aids are patterned on both the handle and shaft and are fitted with coloured collars.
All the walking sticks mentioned below come with non-slip rubber feet, also known as ferrules, that are 1.9 cm (0.8 inches) in diameter.
Classic Canes have released a selection of stunning new designs and patterns for this autumn, with the highlights below.
This very stylish and fashionable walking aid features a range of adorable cats in a variety of colours on a black background. The collar is chrome. The height is adjustable between 79 and 89 cm (31 and 35 inches), and the stick weighs 315g.
This distinctive cane is one of many folding walking sticks and features a pattern of black bats and tree silhouettes with orange and white stars on a coloured background.
The colours are not an exact match between the handle and shaft due to the different materials involved – this is not a fault.
This walking aid comes with a smart chrome collar and can be height-adjusted between 79 to 89 cm (31 and 35 inches) and weighs 315g.
This daily living aid consists of a pattern of stylised gold swallows on a black background. This mobility aid has a smart brass collar, is height-adjustable between 79 to 89 cm (31 and 35 inches), and weighs 315g.
This mobility aid is a colourful folding cane with a garden theme consisting of wellingtons, hand tools such as secateurs and watering cans and a mix of potted plants and vegetables on a pale background.
This cane is another one of our folding walking sticks and has a chrome collar and a derby handle that's beautifully shaped for maximum comfort. It's height-adjustable from 82 to 92 cm (32 and 36 inches), so it can be altered to fit a wide range of people.
Another new design is a stunning folding cane covered with some of the various owls found in Britain – Tawny, Little Owl, Barn, Short-eared and Long-eared owl. The owls are interspersed with crescent moons and oak leaves on a pale cream background.
The folding derby handle cane can be height-adjusted from 82 to 92 cm (32 and 36 inches) and has a high-quality collar made from brass.
This walking cane is another folding walking stick. It has a stylish pattern from Classic Canes, featuring some horses and ponies native to Britain and Ireland – Shetland, Exmoor and the Connemara pony, Thoroughbreds, Cleveland Bay and Shire Horses.
The folding cane is height-adjustable from 82 to 92 cm (32 and 36 inches) and has a shaft made from high-quality aluminium. The stick is fitted with a brass collar and has a derby handle, elegantly shaped to provide maximum and comfortable support.
Walking stick ferrules cushion the impact of the stick on the ground and lessens the shock that travels into your hand and arm. Ferrules also add stability and help to avoid any slippages on rough ground.
Walking stick ferrules come in all sizes, shapes and materials – rubber, plastic and metal – and can be found at the bottom of all the walking sticks mentioned in this blog.
The choice of ferrule depends on where you plan to use your walking stick. For example, a discreet 'fine' ferrule would be appropriate at a formal function. If you're going to be walking on soft ground, you might want to consider adding a ferrule with a spike to your walking stick.
Non-slip rubber ferrules are the most popular, as they help the walking stick "grip" the ground, providing additional stability. Rubber feet are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Ferrules wear out, so it's best to inspect your ferrule monthly for signs of wear and tear. If a ferrule needs replacing, don't worry, as it's a simple thing to do. Above is a short video showing you how to replace one. Ability Superstore has also written a blog about it – click here to read it.
Now you know a little more about the positive aspects of adding some walking into your daily life, and how to get started, as well as finding out a little more about the different walking aids that are available, it's time to lace up your walking shoes, grab your rollator or walking stick, and get walking!
We hope you've found this blog helpful. If you have any questions about choosing a walking aid or want to know about other walking aids that can help your everyday life, why not call us on 0161 850 00884?
For information or advice on anything in the mobility aid world, call our customer service team free on 0800 255 0498, or email us at heretohelp@abilitysuperstore.com. You can also send us a message via this Contact Us form on our website.
If you're local, why not visit our Ability Superstore shop store, where we hold hundreds of other mobility aids in stock?
Look at our website to view our full range of mobility aids.
