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Occupational therapists involved in walking stick initiative

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

A number of occupational therapists were recently involved in a scheme which involved checking people's walking sticks.

Experts from Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust were on hand at Stretford Mall as part of a fall prevention initiative.

The organisation provides services at a number of medical centres, including Trafford General, Altrincham General and Stretford Memorial Hospitals, as well as a range of community facilities.

Commenting on the free checks, Debra Maloney from the trust said: "Walking sticks are a vital aid for people who have walking difficulties, but if the ferrule is worn out, they can actually be a slip hazard."

She added that often people fail to realise that the rubber on the end of their walking aids has worn down.

In such cases, the sticks can be more of a hindrance than a help, the medical expert noted.

The health workers saw more than 150 people and replaced 30 ferrules over the course of one day, as well as exchanging 18 walking sticks that were unsafe.

They will return to the mall to perform similar checks later this month.

Written by Alex Franklin Stortford