As we celebrate Labor Day it got us thinking about walking and whether it can sometimes be considered a labor. Walking, for most people, is a routine activity and not usually categorized as labor unless it's part of a job or involves significant effort (like hiking long distances).
However, if someone is walking under strenuous conditions like horrendous weather or for an extended period, it could feel like laborious work. That said, for some people walking can be a labor because of a physical condition like arthritis, an injury or a chronic condition like Parkinson’s or MS. It is for those folks that we stress the advantages that walking poles can provide.
Walking poles help provide balance and stability while engaging the body’s core, both of which can greatly take pressure off of joints and parts of the body that might be under stress while walking. Other advantages include promoting joint flexibility and muscle movement, thereby reducing stiffness and improving overall mobility. Taken together, pole walking can help take the labor out of otherwise strenuous walking, or at least make it easier to enjoy.
Let’s Get Out There!
Tags
Health Benefits of Walking, Pole Walking for Seniors, Walking Research
Have been using 2 hand canes and needed more support for my wrists/shoulders.
These are very solid, sturdy feeling and comfortable. Only issue is the bulk and weight of the arm carrier.my shoulders hurt with carrying /lifting these. Bulk also makes using them in the car ( going someplace with them), or holding both together to make full use of a hand... They don't " nest" or self adhere to make more manageable, although they do fold compactly and have a nice storage bag.
Only other concern is no secondary barrel compression nut to secure length- only the sliding button adjuster. I anticipate with use they will start to creak and move at the adjust point.
Motivator poles first time used for 10 days in Ireland
I have had pain in my left hip for many years that kicks in after walking any distance. I am 75 years old, 5'1 and carry an extra 100 lbs. Looking at a family trip to Ireland where I knew my athletic children would we walking everywhere and planned to hike in the mountains as well. I was worried about keeping up and not destroying our family vacation with them worring about me.
I knew I needed something to stablize my gait to keep me leaning toward that bad hip as it brought pain I would favor leaning toward it. The leaning just makes it worse but hard to pull up straight to continue walking if in pain. I purchased your Motivator poles hoping for the stability stated in your website and so very, very glad I did this. I did not use them to walk prior to trip as I was ill for many weeks prior except to try them out with my son along his driveway. I first really used them leaving the car at the airport and walking through the terminal to check in and to the flight which was more walking than I've done in a long time. Over the 10 day trip I was able to walk 2 1/2-3/4 miles on first 2 days, 3 to 4+ miles for 7 days and one day went over 5 miles - this was total miles spread out over a day not consistant walking. What a blessing to find these wonderful poles and bring back a life I use to enjoy. Thank you the designed handles are so comfortable in all sorts of terrain we covered on our 10 days through Ireland, they were light weight, never had any issues in hands or shoulders from the constant movement. My sons use poles hiking mountain trails and told me to start out changing the way I moved the poles sometimes both at same time walking toward them but to mix it up just a bit when I first began using them to keep from using same muscle area by mixing up a bit now and then. I think that helped in the beginning but once I was comfortable after a few days I stopped mixing as I became more comfortable with the poles.
Going up and down stairs - if few could use poles. If many steps I could grab hand rail with right hand and give one to husband or hold both poles on occassion in left hand to have balance on the left side. You just have to use your judgement on how you feel but keep using them off and on throughout your day. I was just sitting most of the day getting in steps around the house or when I went to the grocery store as a shopping cart gave me same stability. I had limited other store shopping to online over the years. The motivator poles are life saving for me and plan to use them daily from now on. Hope this review helps someone else.
The staff and service are wonderful at York Nordic as I ordered the extra small size at first based on my height in error, not arm distance to the floor finding the poles too short and needed exchange for the small. They worked with me on the new purchase and exchange and were very professional and helpful to receive them in time before I left for Ireland.
We are thrilled you found them as useful as we do!
These adjustable crutches are the most comfortable cane/crutch sets that I ever had. The size options that go with them make them be able to fit anyone! James
It works like advertised, which is very helpful when I need to lean my crutches on something, or on the bus, but I can't in good conscious recommend them to anyone. The screws and allen wrench are made of an extremely cheap material that completely stripped itself by the time I'd finished installing them. They'll work, but once they're on, you better not need to adjust, or take them off.