Fritzstock

A Fritz Stock (also Fritz crutch or shortly Fritz ) is a floor , the handle (the so-called Fritz handle ) at its upper end, a right angle is to the pole and which is formed in typically - a stick, as it in the second half of the 18 Century ruling Prussian King Friedrich II. , Also known as Der Alte Fritz , used in his later years.

" The old Fritz " in his later years, leaning on a Fritz stick with his right hand

On the lower end of the stick is nowadays usually a somewhat flexible run-contained rubber ( Stock buffer ) plugged in, which the attenuation of the resultant to a substrate when placing the floor vibration effect ( shock in the shoulder or wrist are alleviated) and through static friction a To prevent slipping with the stick on the ground.

Instead of the rubber buffer at the lower end of the pole, a pole tip made of steel or tungsten carbide or another metal-like carbide can be attached . In order to let go of the stick in order to touch something else without losing it, a stick loop can be mounted below the handle; the loop is then placed around the wrist. In order to secure the stick against falling over when parking, a stick holder can be installed below the handle; With the holder, the stick can be attached to the edge of a table top or the like. to be hanged.

Use of a Fritz stick

The Fritzstock can be both an orthopedic aid for walking ( walking aid ) and a simple walking stick .

Use in medicine

In orthopedics , the Fritzstock is used for congenital or acquired form or functional defects in the musculoskeletal system, both with permanent disabilities and with a temporary handicap (e.g. after an accident ) - the Fritzstock enables a minor one The ability to walk independently (without a helper) , albeit with a slower movement , can be compensated for . In the case of osteoarthritis of the knee joint , conservative, non- pharmacological treatment with a Fritzstock that is “held on the contralateral side of the affected joint” can reduce stress on the knee joint and alleviate pain when moving. In contrast to the intended use of the orthopedic aid, however, it happens that “some patients prefer to wear the stick ipsilaterally ”, ie on the side of the affected limb .

In the medical aids directory of the statutory health insurance (GKV) , the Fritzstock is described as a hand stick to be prescribed for the medical indication "slight walking disabilities without the need to relieve skeletal sections in the event of illness or consequences of injuries with disruption of the musculoskeletal system and simultaneous coordination / balance disorder" ; it is thus an aid in medical rehabilitation .

Use as an everyday object

A Fritz stick can also easily be used as a hand or walking stick in everyday life without the user having a physical handicap - e.g. B. as a walking stick for a walk or as a walking stick for a hike. Whether, as a result of the death of Frederick the Great (1786), this special stick shape was increasingly used as an expression of an actual or supposed social status (based on the motto "Something of Friedrich's glory will rub off on me through the use of a Fritz stick") not handed down. From around the middle of the 20th century , opinions about the use of a walking stick also changed.

For use in rainy weather, combinations of a Fritz stick with an umbrella are available, either as an umbrella stick or as a stick umbrella . An umbrella stick can be separated into stick and umbrella by pulling the stick out of the handle of the umbrella. With a stick umbrella , the umbrella is pulled out of the tubular stick in order to be able to use stick and umbrella at the same time but separately according to their functions.

In order to be able to use the stick in snow or ice, an ice claw can be clamped around the stick above the lower end of the stick, which can be folded down if necessary.

Use by Friedrich II.

Frederick the Great at the time of the Seven Years' War, holding a Fritz stick in his right hand

It is not known whether the old Fritz (Friedrich the Great) used his stick because of an actual physical handicap ( rheumatism and arthritis ) or as a social signal . It is also not known from what point in time Friedrich used a hand stick at all - his quote from the Seven Years' War “I have nothing left, except hat, stick, honor and porcelain” indicates, however, that around 1760 he used a stick. What shape the stick was at that time is questionable. Later figurative representations show the Prussian king at least around 1780 with a Fritz stick .

There is no evidence of whether the designation of the stick shape as Fritzstock was already common during Friedrich II's lifetime or only from a later point in time.

The fact that Frederick the Great had a preference for the stick (as such) (while the soldiers of the Prussian army feared it) becomes clear from Friedrich's quotation, "The guy must be more afraid of the stick than the enemy!" In this context, however, hazel and birch rods dipped in salt were meant, which were used when running the gauntlet . While this form of corporal punishment was carried out by others, the Prussian king must also have raised the stick against his servants personally, as has been described in recent publications.

Other known users

Otto Graf Lambsdorff was one of the well-known personalities who regularly used a Fritzstock in everyday life in Germany .

Other stick shapes

From Fritz Stock to distinguish, other walking sticks as the Derby Stock (other handle shape), the Fischer Stock (by Dr. Fischer, with anatomical handle, which is designed so that "the entire palm of the hand can be used to support [...]"), and other stock forms ( see also: walking stick ).

Web links

• Germi: Frederick the Great (picture of Frederick the Great as a miniature figure, sitting on a horse, holding his typical stick in his right hand - figure for a diorama ). In: Jens Najewitz (Hrsg.): Najemo picture gallery
• Fritzkrücke (Quote: "This is a handle that is not bent but is attached almost at right angles to the stick. This handle makes it easier to support, the handle is named after the Prussian King Frederick the Great, who made a silver handle in this shape popular. "). In: Schirm Oertel (Ed.): The umbrella lexicon. Technical terms related to the umbrella

Individual evidence

1. ^ Albert Weitner, Thorsten Haase: REHA. Walking aids. (PDF) (No longer available online.) In: Orthopädietechnische Versorgungen. Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Faculty of Medicine, January 27, 2006, p. 4 , archived from the original on July 15, 2007 ; accessed on August 10, 2008 : “Fritzstock. Partly relieving " Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ Dr. med. Arnim Gleichmann: Follow-up treatment. (PDF; 412 kB) (No longer available online.) Orthopädische Gemeinschaftspraxis Geißler, Schuhmacher, Gleichmann, November 28, 2007, pp. 2, 4, 5, 9 and 16 , archived from the original on October 5, 2015 ; Retrieved on August 10, 2008 (Several indications are listed for which, from the point in time that a 100% load on the injured body region may be allowed again, the Fritzstock is a possible aid, depending on body weight, the pain threshold and the muscular situation of the patient.): "In case of uncertainty 1 Fritzstock" Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ Klaus Peter Kammerer: Clinical and radiological analysis of rotational malalignment of the tibia in the arthritic knee with special consideration of the leg axis position. (PDF) In: Website of the Hannover Medical School. January 2006, p. 52 , accessed on February 18, 2009 (approx. 7.1 MB): “The stress on the knee joint can be reduced with aids. Walking sticks (Fritz stick, crutch, forearm crutches) that are held on the contralateral side of the affected joint can relieve pain when moving. " 
4. ^ Nils Hailer: Fritzstock. In: Lexicon of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery. Martin Engelhardt, accessed on February 1, 2011 : “[...] should be held contralateral to the diseased extremity by the patient. In practice, however, it will often be observed that some patients prefer to wear the stick ipsilaterally. " 
5. ↑ REHADAT. List of resources of the GKV according to § 139 SGB V. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on September 16, 2008 ; Retrieved on August 13, 2008 (database of resources): "Product group 10, application location 50, sub-group 01, product types 0000-0999" Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
6. ↑ Safebrella. (No longer available online.) In: Online catalog. Schirm Oertel, archived from the original on November 7, 2006 ; Retrieved on August 14, 2008 (picture of an umbrella stick with Fritz handle): “Safebrella, a combination of umbrella and stick. At the push of a button and at lightning speed, you get a stable stick and keep the light and windproof umbrella. […] Once the rain has passed, the walking stick is pushed back into the umbrella stick, it automatically locks into place and you only have a normal umbrella in your hand, which you can then continue to use as a walking stick. " Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ↑ Stick umbrellas. (No longer available online.) In: Das Regenschirm-Lexikon. Technical terms related to the umbrella. Schirm Oertel, archived from the original on September 29, 2007 ; retrieved on August 14, 2008 : “Umbrellas housed in an aluminum tube. The tube has a screw-off handle and looks like a walking stick. When using the umbrella, the stick can also be used as a walking aid. ” Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
8. ↑ Men's stick umbrella Stabilo. In: online catalog. Gastrock sticks, accessed on August 14, 2008 : “Men's derby stick with an internal umbrella (56/6-part, Ø 7 mm black frame). A screw-off derby handle made of wood, the tube is made of bronzed aluminum. Length 88cm, with rubber clamp. Diameter 28 mm. " 
9. ↑ Ice claw for walking sticks. (No longer available online.) In: Online catalog. Proaktivo, archived from the original on February 13, 2009 ; Retrieved on August 14, 2008 : "... the ice claw can be attached to any walking stick or cane" Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
10. ↑ Hat, stick, honor - and the KPM. In: Welt Online. Axel Springer AG, November 9, 2003, accessed on August 13, 2008 : "When Friedrich the Great was at its lowest point in the Seven Years' War, he said: 'I have nothing left except hat, stick, honor and china'." 
11. ↑ Lot No. 6030. (No longer available online.) In: Auction 50. Hermann Historica oHG International Auctioneers, 2006, formerly the original ; Retrieved on August 14, 2008 (Old Fritz leans on a Fritz stick with his right hand): “Friedrich the Great. Porcelain figure depicting the Prussian King around 1780 " 
12. ↑ Jochen Stöckmann: A "present" for the battered army. In: Deutschlandradio Kultur. Radiofeuilleton: Calendar sheet. Deutschlandradio, August 3, 2008, accessed on August 14, 2008 : “There were bad times for soldiers, back then in Prussia: The monarchs of the 18th century may have been so enlightened, but in their barracks the demon of blunt drill prevailed humiliating flogging and running the gauntlet, the daily threat of death - not just on the battlefield. Because when it comes to 'inner guidance', Frederick the Great had given the motto: 'The guy must be more afraid of the stick than of the enemy!' " 
13. ↑ Heidi Jäger: Always new dragon heads. (No longer available online.) In: Müller von Sanssouci. Press reviews. Potsdam latest news. Wolbern Verlagsgesellschaft, December 14, 2006, formerly in the original ; Retrieved on August 14, 2008 (press reviews on the book Müller von Sanssouci by Anna Vilsen): "You can see the candles flicker, the king's thoughts sink lost in his armchair, then the lackeys sometimes with a stick, sometimes thinking with good words." 
14. ↑ Order of Lambsdorff. In: media database. State government of North Rhine-Westphalia, December 12, 2006, accessed on August 14, 2008 (Photo with Otto Graf Lambsdorff - holding a Fritz stick in his left hand - and the Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.). 
15. ↑ Guido Bergmann: Image 636161. (No longer available online.) In: Reden und Interviews. Federal President, February 2, 2007, archived from the original on January 9, 2016 ; Retrieved on August 14, 2008 (photo with Otto Graf Lambsdorff - leaning on a Fritzstock with his right hand - and the German Federal President at a reception on the occasion of his 80th birthday.). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
16. ↑ walking sticks. (No longer available online.) Rebotec rehabilitation agent, formerly the original ; retrieved on August 14, 2008 : "The anatomical handles are designed so that, in contrast to the standard handles, the entire palm of the hand can be used for support."