Dr. Ajantha Jayabarathan (Dr. AJ), a family physician in Halifax, was inspired to consider how Nordic walking could help more of her patients after witnessing an elderly patient with a knee injury use walking poles to get into her clinic.
She said that even though her patient had an acute knee injury, he was holding himself upright and walking with greater ease. “He did better than most of my patients do with an injury like that. In fact, he went on a long pilgrimage, which I didn’t think was even possible, but he was able to do it because of the poles” she added.
Dr. AJ researched the advantages of Nordic walking and how it can assist patients manage chronic health conditions, increase their level of activity, and improve their mobility.
Here are some reasons why you should try Nordic walking today:
Get moving, safely
She eventually convinced her father, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, to try using walking poles.
In order to extend the advantages beyond her own family practice, Dr. AJ collaborated with Zoomers Physiotherapy’s Halifax physiotherapist Laura Lundquist to create the Get Up and Go pilot program.
Halifax family doctors provided free customized walking poles as part of the program, which was funded by the Doctors Nova Scotia Section of the Family Doctors Council. Zoomers Physiotherapy provided physiotherapists with evaluation, training, and usage guidance for the walking poles.
Activate your muscles
Participants in the pilot program included 30 individuals with diabetes, COPD, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and hip replacement, ranging in age from 50 to 84. Participants were able to exercise indoors and outdoors in a safe and energetic manner thanks to the poles.
According to Ms. Lundquist, walking with poles boosts your muscular use by 40%, increasing your calorie burning.
Find the right fit
Patients can select between two types of poles based on the activities they will be performing: activator poles for those who need greater stability or urban poles for walking.
Dr. AJ claims that she now has a new tool to utilize in her family practice thanks to the project.
Get Up and Go Nova Scotia is a new provincial initiative that aims to reach more primary care physicians and family doctors around the province. To learn more, providers are encouraged to register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/sBm5b5o
Learn more at: https://www.yourdoctors.ca/blog/healthy-living/nordic-walking/
Reference: https://www.yourdoctors.ca/
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