Parkinson’s Life Hacks
Review of Urban Poling’s Walking Poles
Leigh Johnson
11/1/2021
I have walked for years for aerobic fitness and more recently as a PD therapy. Recently, walking on concrete sidewalks, fast enough to raise my heart rate for PD benefits, led to muscle and joint injuries. And I was worried about falling because the sidewalks where I live are rough and some have been heaved by tree roots.
I learned about therapeutic walking poles from the online PD-Connect exercise program (https://pd-connect.org/ - calendar), that Irene Marcus suggested. With the poles, I can get a better aerobic workout with less wear and tear on my legs and feet, because I’m also using my shoulders and arms to lift and move the poles. I feel safer because the poles improve my stability.
Here is what I tracked on my Apple Watch:
With old dog: 20 minutes at 26 minutes/mile with average heart rate of 78 beats/minute Without dog: 30 minutes at 22 minutes/mile with average heart rate of 100 beats/minute led to joint pain next day that lasted several days.
With poles: 12 minutes at 22 minutes/mile walking up and down hill with average heart rate of 139 beats/minute and no joint pain.
I learned about therapeutic walking poles from the online PD-Connect exercise program (https://pd-connect.org/ - calendar), that Irene Marcus suggested. With the poles, I can get a better aerobic workout with less wear and tear on my legs and feet, because I’m also using my shoulders and arms to lift and move the poles. I feel safer because the poles improve my stability.
Here is what I tracked on my Apple Watch:
With old dog: 20 minutes at 26 minutes/mile with average heart rate of 78 beats/minute Without dog: 30 minutes at 22 minutes/mile with average heart rate of 100 beats/minute led to joint pain next day that lasted several days.
With poles: 12 minutes at 22 minutes/mile walking up and down hill with average heart rate of 139 beats/minute and no joint pain.
(When I began using the poles, long walks strained my shoulders and arms that were not used to them. I had to stop for a while and then begin again with a short walk. I plan to increase the distance gradually and back off if the pain returns.)
This life hack is based on personal experience; it is not medical advice or recommendation. If you are interested, please talk with your doctor before trying it. I have no relationship with the company, except that I bought their product and like it.
Here is where I found the poles that PD-Connect featured: UrbanPolingTM at https://urbanpoling.com (Learn about them here; I also found on Amazon.)
I chose their Activator poles that are adjustable for height, have an anti-vibration feature, and an ergonomic grip. They come with rubber tips that have a flat bottom. I ordered their Accessory Boot Tips that look like little hiking boots, because the curved outside edge allows them to roll smoothly as you rock forward with each step.
This life hack is based on personal experience; it is not medical advice or recommendation. If you are interested, please talk with your doctor before trying it. I have no relationship with the company, except that I bought their product and like it.
Here is where I found the poles that PD-Connect featured: UrbanPolingTM at https://urbanpoling.com (Learn about them here; I also found on Amazon.)
I chose their Activator poles that are adjustable for height, have an anti-vibration feature, and an ergonomic grip. They come with rubber tips that have a flat bottom. I ordered their Accessory Boot Tips that look like little hiking boots, because the curved outside edge allows them to roll smoothly as you rock forward with each step.