Nordic walking in a wheelchair?

At Lakeshore Foundation's WALKTOBER health expo, I met a woman in a wheelchair who was curious about Nordic walking. We looked at the situation, and I adjusted the poles so she could use them while in her wheelchair.

She took off, using the poles to push herself forward, and she traveled all over the gym, able to control direction of travel as well as speed. This was different for her because she was used to pushing the wheels forward, working her chest muscles and front shoulder muscles. The poles worked her back and the shoulder muscles in back.

Why was this a big deal? I listened to Dr. Jared Rehm a little later in the day present on how to optimize wheelchair propulsion. It turns out the constant pushing forward of the wheels actually creates a muscle imbalance because the upper body muscles in front become stronger at the expense of the upper body muscles in the back.

Using Nordic walking poles actually helps counteract that imbalance because of the workout the muscles in the back get.

It makes Nordic walking a more inclusive activity.
Wonderful walks at McKendree Village (Heritage, Tennessee)