Why do two people holding onto a pole fall less often?
An ordinary stick can function almost like a portable handrail. Scientists have shown that when two people walk side by side, holding onto a single rigid stick, they find it easier to regain their balance after a sudden stumble.
In the experiment, participants were placed on a special treadmill that suddenly altered the movement beneath their feet. Sometimes only one participant would ‘slip’, whilst the other remained steady. It was at precisely these moments that the walking stick proved particularly helpful.
Put simply: the person who remains steady quickly conveys support and subtle movement cues to their partner via the walking stick. This helps the body react more quickly and avoid losing their balance.
Details
The researchers tested 12 pairs of volunteers. The participants walked side by side on a special track. In some cases, they held a rigid stick between them; in others, a flexible strap; and sometimes they were not connected to each other at all.
The track would then suddenly change direction. This simulated a situation where a person had slipped or stumbled.
The rigid stick proved more effective than the elastic band or no connection at all. When one person lost their balance whilst the other remained stable, the pair returned to their normal gait more quickly.
Why was the ribbon less effective? Because it stretches. The signal and support aren’t immediate. A stick, on the other hand, is rigid: if one person jerked, the other felt it straight away.
How it works in simple terms
When a person starts to fall, they need to work out very quickly where their body is shifting and how to place their foot to stay upright.
If there is a steady partner nearby and a rigid pole between them, the body receives an extra cue. This is not just physical support; it is also a rapid exchange of signals via the hands.
Scientists have observed that the stable person seems to ‘guide’ the one who has slipped. Through the pole, they transmit small movements that help their partner regain their balance more quickly.
Put simply, the stick connects the two people into a single system. One loses their balance; the other helps them regain it.
Why this is important
Falls are a serious problem, particularly for older people and those with gait disorders. Even a single fall can lead to injuries, a fear of walking and a loss of independence.
New research shows that firm support can be very beneficial. This could help in the future with the development of walking sticks, walking frames, handrails and balance training programmes.
Background
People have long known that holding onto a hand, a handrail or a walking stick helps them walk more confidently. But new research highlights an important detail: it is not just the support itself that matters, but also how firm it is.
A soft connection can be delayed. A rigid stick, however, immediately transfers movement from one person to another. That is why it works faster.
It’s similar to a situation on public transport: if a person holds onto a rigid handrail, it’s easier for them to stay balanced when the vehicle jerks. A walking stick between two people can play a similar role, except that the ‘handrail’ is a steady partner.
Source
Study: Sandrine Gayrard et al., ‘Instability analysis of perturbed gait in dyads: holding a stick together provides effective assistance and is accompanied by information exchanges’, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 2026.