Nordic walking and hip replacement

The news of football coach Nick Saban undergoing hip replacement surgery got me thinking about the usefulness of Nordic walking for people who have undergone that kind of operation.

It turns out Nordic walking is a great exercise activity for people who have experienced hip replacement.

One patient exchanged hobbling with canes for walking briskly with good posture when she took up Nordic walking.

Runners are advised to take up Nordic walking for rehab or as a permanent activity.

One patient experienced multiple benefits:

Results have been amazing and because of the excellent training prior to joining the group walks and the support of the poles I haven’t suffered any discomfort at all. I’ve lost a stone in weight and have toned up everywhere, even my upper arm “bingo wings” ! and I feel much fitter and have more energy.  

I’ve also met some very pleasant people on the walks and one of the main things is that Nordic walking is not competitive so everyone can walk at their own speed, it is also something that can be enjoyed by all people of all ages. 

At my recent yearly medical check up at the surgery all my tests were very good, especially my blood pressure and they were most impressed with my weight loss !!

Not quite hip replacement, but this person decided to try Nordic walking having heard about post-operative people benefiting from the activity:

Nordic walking is used extensively in continental Europe for hip operation pre and re-hab.  A fair few of you who walk with us have either had hip replacements or are waiting for them.  You successfully use Nordic walking to help take the load off your aching joints and I was interested to see if the poles would do the same for me.  It was utterly amazing – and probably worth all the pain just for this benchmarking experience.  I could Nordic walk very comfortably, without hobbling and with minimal discomfort.  Totally different from my experience walking without poles.

Overall, I think hip replacement patients have a great activity in Nordic walking.

Nordic walking meetup in Tuscaloosa County (The Park at Manderson Landing) on 5/19

Join us on Sunday to find out what Nordic walking is all about! No charge; poles provided. Look for the white Nordic walking sign.

• When: 2:00 PM, May 19
• Where: The Park at Manderson Landing. 9 Jack Warner Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

We'll also connect people together to form walking groups so you can walk on your own with old and new friends.

Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor

Big doings during May to remind us about the life life-changing benefits of Nordic walking::

• The International Nordic Walking Federation is celebrating World Nordic Walking Day on May 18 and 19. Come be part of the worldwide community!
• Talk about timing. May is also Older Americans Month. Yup. That includes me. Let's use this healthy activity to create a fantastic new journey to wellness.
• So May is also Family Wellness Month. Nordic walking can be a family affair. 
• Speaking of family wellness, May 18 is also Visit Your Relatives Day. Here's an idea: Bring them to this Nordic walking event and introduce them to a great sport.

Why Nordic walking?

• Full body, low impact
• Increase weight loss
• Improve cholesterol
• Improve blood pressure
• Facilitate rehabilitation
• Maintain stability and balance
• Maintain posture
• Facilitate stress relief
• Support muscle toning
• Improve cardiovascular function
• Improve lung capacity
• Support immune system
• Socialize with walking companions
• You determine the intensity of your workout

Click here for a full schedule of group gatherings.

Learn more about Nordic walking at my Nordic Walking Guy blog and Nordic Walking Guy Facebook page.

Getting us moving

A research article about walkability made a few interesting points:

• In addition to obesity, “a sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer” and called for “environments in which physical activity becomes a routine part of the day for more Americans.”
• Such environments are becoming more possible because of “a growing understanding of how to create bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly settings.”
• The article also cited “4 key attributes: more compact neighborhoods with a mix of land uses; a comprehensive network of pathways, trails, bike lanes, and mass transit to allow “active” transportation; site designs that welcome cyclists and pedestrians; and an umbrella of safety that encourages people to get out of their cars.”

Nordic walking can be done anywhere but walking-friendly communities make it possible to walk in groups. When you combine the social element of walking groups with the exercise benefits of Nordic walking, you realize a greater benefit to the community.