If you’ve ever been cross-country skiing, you’ve seen how walking poles work. The idea is to use the same type of poles, getting even more exercise with every step on your walk.
You may have heard walking with these poles as Nordic walking or urban poling.
Hold the pole out at about a 45-degree angle, planting it to your side and slightly behind your back foot to propel you forward to push off each step. It takes a few steps to get used to the motion, but the learning curve isn’t very long. Ask your physiotherapist to help teach you how to use the walking poles to boost the benefits of your exercise routine.
As you walk with the poles, your upper body, arms and core muscles engage more with every step. You exercise your abdominal, back and pelvic muscles, which goes well beyond the regular benefits of just taking a walk. Using walking poles, you can burn off 20% to 46% more calories using about 90% of your body’s muscles.
Reduced stress on ankles, knees and hips adds stability when you’re walking on trails, so it’s easier to go up and down hills. Walking regularly with poles builds additional strength and improves posture and balance to reduce the risk of falls.
If you have balance problems, we recommend a tub to shower conversion to reduce the risks of falls in the bathroom.
