Girls Using Walking Sticks

[Arran2024]

I saw a post about this on X this morning. Apparently it is a trend.

Anyway, I went into town this afternoon and sure enough, I saw a number of young women with walking sticks. None of them looked like they were leaning hard on their stick, just kind of walking along like it was a big umbrella.

Is anyone else seeing this?

Is this a style and beauty question?

Is the trend to self-diagnose with POTS?

Or maybe a self defense stick.

nordic walking poles?

I think some people use it as a sign that they have a disability. The idea being that people will be understanding if you have a stick/wheelchair, but not if there is nothing obviously wrong. I have a invisible health condition and an acquaintance suggested I get one, even though it would be no practical help to me whatsoever!

OMG! I have never in my life before been On Trend!!

No. It is definitely not a walking pole. It is a disability aid.

Someone suggested that on the X thread.

My 18 yo niece has one. ASD and completely obsessed with trans.

No. It is about young girls using a disability aid as a coping strategy when they go out. Why are they doing this? Maybe it gives them a weapon too?

we have definitively seen a rise of this in Bristol. In fact it was my OH that mentioned it first saying it was v odd

right. I’m getting one. That’ll knock the trend on the head where I live

The best way to manage pots, according to the pots association, is exercise, specifically legs, compression stockings, correct hydration and sometimes off label, beta blockers.

I wouldn’t be surprised at this trend though.

actually as a teen I liked walking sticks but more as a decorative item to collect and display in the corner. Horse heads etc. Dad had an antique one with a sword inside - I think he ended up giving it to the police as it was quite the weapon. And to help when hiking, but Nordic poles came in, and older people used them and I was Definitely Not Using Nordic Poles thank you.

For the first time in my life I felt like I needed a visible disability sign today… I was waiting for the bus and could hear the tutting from the older people as I had to make sure I got a seat (for my safety I have to sit at the back of the bus, in the shade, as my meds for photosensitive epilepsy are not very effective and sunglasses aren’t particularly helpful either. I need a seat in case I have a partial or god forbid full seizure.)
By the way all the older people got seats too.

Yet when a young guy with a walking stick got in the bus they all offered him a seat!!

What's pots please?

I am going straight for the walking frame

I had to start using a walking stick in the last 2 years due to an injury leading to a diagnosed disability (not POTS). I do need to lean on it heavily after just a few minutes of standing and walking. Being ‘too young’ to need a mobility aid, I’ve had a few encounters with disbelieving people when in public. Other young people I know who have need of a stick are afraid to use one because of this recent stereotype.

Girls want to be different from the rest.
Girls copy other girls.
It was always like this.

I’ve been using one for years now, always ahead of the curve, me. (Osteoarthritis 🙁).

I did see off a herd of curious bullocks with it while out walking, though, very useful in that respect.

Yeah, it's the whole chronically ill/neurodivergent trend that's been big for the last few years. You see a lot of these people on TikTok. They usually have at least four or five of the following:

Walking stick, sunflower lanyard, POTS, fibromyalgia, ADHD, non-binary, EDS, autism, C-PTSD, emotional support dog, PIP, dungarees, brightly dyed hair, misophonia.

Of course not every young person with a walking stick is a spoonie, before anyone jumps on me.

They’re not but maybe they don’t have to tut because surely they must know invisible disability is a thing.

OMG I do actually have misophonia! Now I need to get a sturdy walking stick, so I can savagely beat anybody who dares to munch an apple in my presence.

Epilepsy is a disability. It doesn’t need the sarcastic quote marks.

I actually have a cane that I don't use. I might start using it now 😂