Nordic walking can benefit people of all ages — including active seniors!

While canes and walkers remain the most often prescribed assistive devices for those needing to take weight and stress off of the joints of the hips, knees and feet, as well as for those in need of balance aids, many are discovering that a pair of specially designed Nordic walking poles may even provide an even more effective assist.

Nordic walking poles were initially introduced as a year-round means of turning walking into a total body exercise similar in both appearance and benefits to cross-country skiing.  While Nordic walking pole users are enthusiastic regardless of age or ability, among the most enthusiastic users may be those who have traded in their canes and walkers for a pair of these sporty looking poles.  Peggy Buchanan, who as Director of Aquatics and Fitness did a walking pole pilot project at Vista Del Monte retirement community in Santa Barbara, CA says, “People with canes and walkers tend to see themselves as ‘invalids’, but the same people with senior friendly designed Nordic walking poles more often feel like ‘athletes’”.

Nordic Walking poles provide physical and psychological lift for cane and walker users

The "pop-button" locking mechanism

For eight weeks, 13 seniors at Vista Del Monte averaging 86 years of age traded in their canes and walkers for Exerstrider’s senior-friendly ACTIVATOR  Nordic walking poles. Unlike most adjustable Nordic walking poles which lock to a selected length by twisting upper and lower section against one another to activate an expanding internal locking mechanism, the ACTIVATOR model has a locking system that can be more safely and easily locked by those with arthritis or those with declining grip strength.  The locking system, which is very similar to that used on most canes and walkers. is both very safe and intuitive.

“All those who traded in walkers immediately began walking with a more upright posture and their gate pattern went from the ‘walker shuffle’ to a more normalized walking gait – and the psychological benefits may have been as important as the physical benefits.  Participants all walked with greater confidence and a smile of satisfaction on their faces”, according to Buchanan.  Those who traded their canes for a pair of the senior friendly strapless gripped Nordic walking poles immediately felt the benefit of an addition point in contact with the ground and using the poles quickly began to correct the leaning that generally often comes with cane use.  Buchanan warns that using Nordic walking poles with traditional twist-lock mechanism and strapped grips could create significant safety concerns.  According to Buchanan, “The unique senior friendly design features of the Exerstrider ACTIVATOR model poles make idea for the active aging population I work with.”

Nordic poles are helping to halt and even reverse some of the “normal effects of aging” !

One 92 year old resident joined the group only after she saw the other senior Nordic pole walkers in action.  “My breathing very quickly got better, my posture is better, and my stride is better.  I can get around the campus on these.  I no longer need my walker.”

At Wesley Willows retirement community in Rockford, Illinois, more than 60 seniors showed up to hear Nordic walking pole pioneer and innovator Tom Rutlin explain how Nordic walking poles work and to get some hands-on instruction.  According to Rutlin, not only can Nordic walking poles aid in providing balance, confidence and often needed relief for painful joints, they can also help build upper body muscles.  After seeing the initial group in action and hearing many users praise the Nordic walking poles, the walking pole community at Wesley Willows quickly grew to more than 100 people in just a few months.

Wesley Willows senior Nordic walkers

The ACTIVATOR Nordic walking poles are both activating more seniors and reducing fall rates

Reducing joint pain and falls and improving posture might provide more than enough reasons for more seniors to try Nordic walking poles. Add to that maintaining upper body muscle tone and the protection against bone loss that poles may offer as one makes walking a total body weight bearing activity, and it’s no wonder those who have already traded in their canes and walkers for Exerstrider fitness walking poles say they’ve put those old fashioned assistive devices away for good. For seniors with hip, knee or foot problems the weight transferred to the poles can significantly lessen or even eliminate pain when walking.  Best of all, many agree that using the poles has made walking fun again!

Sara Provenzano (left in blue) with senior Nordic walkers

SarahProvenzano, the Senior Activities and Wellness Coordinator at Wesley Willows when the Nordic walking project was launched there, says, “The strapless grip design, as well as the excellent ergonomic/orthotic design of the Exerstrider grips are a very important feature of the Exerstrider Nordic walking poles. Most Nordic walking pole grips just don’t work well for seniors – especially those with arthritic hands, and I would recommend against using typical Nordic walking poles  with straps with senior populations for safety reasons.  Exerstrider’s unique rubber  bell-shaped balance tips also provide a significant level of traction and safety over typical Nordic walking pole rubber tips.”

Exerstrider's exclusive strapless ergonomic grips

Bell-shaped Balance tips

Tom Rutlin and Peggy Buchanan to offer pre-conference workshop on Nordic Walking for seniors at 2011 ICAA International Conference

As a result of the popularity and success of Exerstrider’s senior-tailored Nordic walking programs in continuing care retirement communities throughout North America, a day-long  workshop entitled “Creating “thriving” Nordic walking & pole exercise programs” will be a featured pre-conference event at the 2011 International Council on Active Aging Conference to be held December 1-3, 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida (see ICAA pre-conference schedule).  The day long workshop will allow participating active aging fitness and wellness specialists to 1. Learn and practice a variety of senior friendly Nordic walking pole exercise techniques which can improve the physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being of older adults.  2. Earn an Exerstride Method Nordic Walking Senior Exercise Specialist Certificate of completion while learning to instruct participants of varying ability levels in appropriate techniques.  And, 3. Learn how to launch, grow and sustain lifestyle-integrated community-based walking exercise programs – and attract even the most exercise-phobic residents. Complete details and registration for the workshop are available through the ICAA website.

Additional related posts;

• Glute Exercises For Seniors
• Nordic walking – Choosing a technique that’s right for you
• Nordic walking poles — choosing poles that are right for you
• Nordic walking is exercise to the core!
• Nordic walking history