It’s becoming a common sight to see people out for a walk
using walking poles. This trend is becoming more popular not just in Alberta,
but across the country as well. “Nordic Pole Walking” (pole walking) was
originally created in Finland in the early 1990s as a way
for cross-country skiers to train during the summer months. It
was introduced as a low-impact form of exercise that involves walking with a
pair of customized poles, similar to ski poles. The activity exploded
across Europe in the 1990s and has grown to the point where more than 20% of
Finns and about 10-15 million Germans now regularly pole walk. It is a well
known fact that Europeans, as a whole, tend to lead more active lifestyles
overall than North Americans. They have the right idea when it comes to making
activity part of the daily routine!
Pole Walking is a low impact form of exercise that can offer benefits for improved health and wellness as well as improved overall condition for people of all different levels of fitness. It is becoming popular in the senior population and even hospitals and rehabilitation clinics are promoting the use of walking poles as a way for people to not only improve their cardiovascular health but to also improve their balance, posture and core strength. Walking, of course, has long been known to be an excellent form of aerobic exercise on its own with easy access for most of the population. Now, with adding in the use of the poles, it engages even more muscles groups in the whole body and gives a sense of security for those who are concerned about balance and fall prevention.
There are different forms of walking poles that are suitable
for different people and purposes. There
are walking poles specifically designed for those who want to improve their
fitness level and increase endurance and overall strength. By engaging more muscles in the body, more
energy is required when using the poles and this can improve cardiovascular
fitness and strength.
There also are poles specifically designed for rehabilitation
and balance improvement. These help to decrease the weight/load bearing on the
hips, knees and ankle joints which is beneficial
for rehabilitation following hip or knee replacements or for those recovering from surgeries or fractures in the
lower extremities.
Overall, walking poles help to improve balance by engaging the
core muscles, therefore improving core strength. Using poles will assist with maintaining
balance with support from the poles and with keeping in an upright posture,
rather than flexing forward at the trunk as seen with other assistive devices. Using
the poles will require more strength and endurance than walking without the
poles.
For more detailed information and educational videos for
using the poles please go to http://urbanpoling.com
