Walking Stick for Knee Arthritis
A walking stick can reduce load on a painful arthritic knee, improve balance and help some patients walk farther with greater confidence. It is not a sign that treatment has failed, and it does not automatically mean that knee replacement is required. The benefit depends on choosing the correct height, holding the stick on the appropriate side and using it in a coordinated walking pattern. A stick is most helpful when it makes walking safer and more symmetrical. It should not be used to conceal rapidly worsening pain, repeated falls or major instability without medical reassessment.
How a Walking Stick Helps an Arthritic Knee
The stick provides an additional point of contact with the ground. When used correctly, it can transfer part of the body load through the arm and reduce the force passing through the painful knee. It may also improve balance, shorten a painful limp and make uneven ground feel safer. Patients who avoid walking because of fear may regain confidence with temporary support. The benefit is greatest when the stick is combined with strengthening, suitable footwear and an activity plan rather than used as the only treatment.
Who May Benefit From a Walking Stick?
A walking stick may help patients who limp because of pain, feel unsteady outdoors, need frequent rest during walking or have difficulty on uneven surfaces. It can be useful during an arthritis flare, while waiting for other treatment, during weight or strength rehabilitation, or when advanced arthritis limits mobility. It may also reduce fall risk in selected older adults. A patient with severe balance problems, both knees affected or major weakness may need a walker rather than a single stick.
Which Hand Should Hold the Stick?
The stick is generally held in the hand opposite the painful knee. For example, a patient with right knee pain usually holds the stick in the left hand. This creates a wider support base and can reduce load during the step taken with the painful leg. Individual advice may differ when there is shoulder, wrist, neurological or balance difficulty, or when both knees are painful. A physiotherapist can check the safest pattern. Holding the stick on the painful side may feel intuitive but often provides less mechanical benefit.
Correct Stick Height
When standing upright with the arm relaxed, the handle should generally reach around the wrist crease, allowing a slight bend in the elbow. A stick that is too short can make the patient lean and may increase strain. A stick that is too high can elevate the shoulder and reduce control. Adjustable sticks are useful when sizing is uncertain. The rubber tip should be intact and provide good grip. Worn tips should be replaced because they increase slipping risk, especially on wet or polished floors.
How to Walk With the Stick
Move the stick forward together with the painful leg, then step through with the stronger leg. The stick should remain close enough to provide support without forcing the body to lean sideways. Steps should be comfortable and even rather than hurried. Patients should practise on a flat indoor surface before using the stick outdoors or in crowded areas. The arthritis-specific guide on Walking With Knee Arthritis explains how distance, pace and next-day symptoms should guide walking progression.
Using a Stick on Stairs
Use the railing whenever one is available. A commonly taught early pattern is to lead upward with the less painful leg and downward with the painful leg, while moving the stick as instructed. The exact sequence depends on which hand holds the railing, balance and whether one or both knees are affected. Stair training should be practised with a physiotherapist when confidence is poor. Carrying bags while using a stick and railing should be avoided because both hands may be needed for safety.
When Both Knees Are Painful
When both knees have arthritis, the stick is usually placed on the side that provides the greatest comfort and stability, often opposite the more painful knee. If pain is similar on both sides, a single stick may not provide enough support. A walker can offer a larger base of support and may be safer for poor balance, severe weakness or early recovery after surgery. The choice should consider hand and shoulder strength, home space, stairs and the patient’s confidence.
Walking Stick vs Knee Brace
A stick reduces load through the upper limb and helps balance, while a brace acts around the knee and may provide compression, stability or compartment unloading. Some patients benefit from one device; others may use both for longer outdoor walks. The decision depends on alignment, stability, skin condition, hand function and comfort. The guide on Knee Brace for Knee Arthritis explains when bracing may be considered and its limitations.
Safety and Practical Considerations
The stick should have a secure handle and non-slip tip. Inspect it for cracks, loose adjustment points and wear. Avoid using decorative sticks that cannot support body weight reliably. Keep floors dry and well lit, and wear stable footwear. Patients with wrist, elbow or shoulder pain may require a different handle or walking aid. Numb hands, poor vision and neurological conditions can affect safe use and should be considered during fitting.
Does Using a Stick Make the Leg Weaker?
A correctly used stick does not automatically weaken the leg. It can allow the patient to remain active while pain is being treated and strength is rebuilt. Weakness is more likely when the patient becomes inactive or relies on the aid without exercising. The stick should be reviewed as symptoms improve, and its use may be reduced when gait is safe and reasonably symmetrical. Some patients with permanent balance or arthritis limitations may continue using it long term.
Limitations of a Walking Stick
A stick cannot reverse cartilage loss, correct a severe fixed deformity or treat infection, fracture or true mechanical locking. It may reduce symptoms without addressing progression. Benefit should be judged by safer walking, less limping and improved participation. If walking distance continues to decline, night pain increases or the patient becomes dependent on support for basic indoor movement, the arthritis stage and treatment plan should be reassessed.
When Worsening Walking Needs Reassessment
Increasing reliance on a stick can be appropriate during a temporary flare, but progressive deformity, repeated falls, severe rest pain or major loss of independence may indicate advanced arthritis or another medical problem. Replacement is considered only when symptoms, examination, standing X-rays and failed non-surgical care support the decision. Read When Does Knee Arthritis Need Replacement? for the complete decision pathway.
Additional Clinical Guidance
A walking stick is a load-management and balance tool. The useful outcome is safer, more symmetrical walking with less pain or fear. It should be introduced early enough to preserve mobility rather than only after the patient has become housebound. Correct height and hand selection are essential because an incorrectly used stick may provide little benefit or create shoulder and back strain.
Walking Pattern With a Stick
The stick generally moves forward with the painful leg, allowing the opposite arm and stick to share load during that step. The patient should avoid placing the stick too far ahead or leaning heavily to one side. Short practice sessions on a level surface can help coordinate the pattern before using it outdoors.
Using a Stick on Stairs and Uneven Ground
On stairs, a railing should be used whenever available. Patients are often taught to lead upward with the stronger leg and downward with the painful leg and stick, but individual instruction is safer when both knees, the hip, the shoulder or balance are affected. Rubber tips should be checked regularly because worn tips reduce grip.
When a Single Stick Is Not Enough
A walker may be more appropriate when both knees are severely painful, balance is poor, falls are frequent or the patient needs substantial unloading. A single stick should not create false confidence in a patient who remains unsafe. Hand, wrist and shoulder strength also influence which aid can be used reliably.
For other support options, read Knee Brace for Knee Arthritis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hand should hold the stick?
It is generally held opposite the painful knee. Individual advice may differ when both knees, the shoulder, wrist or neurological function are affected.
Will using a stick make me dependent?
Not necessarily. It can preserve activity and confidence while treatment and strengthening continue. Use can be reduced if pain, balance and strength improve.
How do I know the stick is the correct height?
The handle commonly reaches near the wrist crease when standing upright, allowing a slight elbow bend. Formal fitting is preferable when posture or balance is complex.
Should I use a stick indoors?
Use depends on safety and symptoms. Some patients need it mainly outdoors; others need support during night-time bathroom visits or household walking.
Clinical References and Further Reading
NICE guideline: Osteoarthritis in over 16s—diagnosis and management
AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Non-Arthroplasty)
About the Medical Author
Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya is an Orthopedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon in Mumbai. His practice focuses on knee pain, knee arthritis, staged non-surgical care, selected injection treatment and minimally invasive mini-subvastus robotic knee replacement when surgery is appropriate.
Qualifications: MBBS, D’Ortho, DNB (Orthopedics), MNAMS (Orthopedics), FIJR (Robotic & Navigation).
Last medically reviewed: 17 July 2026. Medical reviewer: Dr. Mayur Rabhadiya.
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Medical Disclaimer
This guide is for general patient education and does not replace a personal consultation, examination, diagnosis or prescription. Seek urgent medical assessment for a hot red swollen knee, fever, sudden inability to bear weight, major injury, new calf swelling, chest pain, breathlessness or rapidly worsening symptoms.