Cancer Wellness

This section provides insight into the development of the ACTIVATOR® poles and examples of the benefits of poles with a few inspiring individuals.

Questions

1. What do you think are the possible benefits are of using poles for rehab?
2. Why is there a more positive perception of using poles vs other devices?
3. When watching the video of Harry McMurtry, please write down your observations of Harry’s gait and posture when walking without poles and with the ACTIVATOR® Poles.

Resources
2018 update:  There are now over 250+ available now on PubMed. 
There are 8 current/recent pilots studies on the ACTIVATOR Poles in Canada and UK.
 

A brief overview of published studies on Nordic walking is given in this section.

Questions:

1. What are the researched benefits of walking poles for those with Parkinson’s?
2. What are the researched benefits of walking poles for older adults?
3. What are the benefits of using poles compared to canes & to reduce the use of walkers (when approved by a rehab professional)?

ACTIVATOR® Poles should only be prescribed for walker users under the assessment and guidance of a rehab professional.  You may assess it is more appropriate for your client to use their cane and/or walker as their primary mobility devices and use ACTIVATOR® Poles for exercise sessions, gait retraining or daily walking programs.

Update: 2018 – ACTIVATOR® Poles are also prescribed in the UK, Ireland, USA and Australia.  2% of 4Life Pole sales goes to cancer wellness programs in Canada. References to the use of poles being prescribed in mental health programs is pertaining to Canada.

Resources

Manual – Read chapter on Research.

Update: 2018 – Click here to read about 8 current/recent pilot studies on ACTIVATOR™ Poles in Canada and UK – Fall Prevention, COPD, Geriatric, Off loading of the Knee, Spinal Stenosis (Royal National Orthopedic Hospital, London UK), Aged Care/Long Term Care

The effects of pole walking on arm lymphedema and cardiovascular fitness in women treated for breast cancer: a pilot and feasibility study.

Links to abstracts on Nordic walking research can be accessed under www.urbanpoling.com under “Health+Research” or 240+ studies on Nordic walking on www.PubMed.com

This section covers the features of the patented ACTIVATOR® poles that make them unique for rehab in comparison to other walking/hiking poles.

Questions

1. Why is the function of the CoreGrip®?
2. What is the function of the bell-shaped tip?
3. What is the locking system & weight-bearing capacity of each ACTIVATOR® Pole?

ACTIVATOR® Features:
Weight bearing capacity per Pole:  200 lbs/90 kg – ACTIVATOR®  vs 20-90 lbs/9-40 kg – vs other types with twist lock system
Maximum Weight of User:  300 lbs/136 kg
Adjustable – 4 to 6 ft /121 cm to 183 cm
New – ACTIVATOR® 2 Poles for taller clients & travel – available as of Nov 2018.   Adjustable up to 6 ft 2  inches /188 cm (may fit clients up to 6 ft 4 inches /193 cm)

Resources

Manual – Read chapter on ACTIVATOR® Poles

For this section, you will need your ACTIVATOR® poles to practice the technique along with the video instructions.

Questions:

1. What are the 4 steps of the ACTIVATOR® technique?
2. After trying the ACTIVATOR® technique, think about how this device differs from traditional walking devices such as a cane.  What observations did you make?
3. Some clients may have a negative perception towards traditional mobility devices; how do you think your clients will respond to using ACTIVATOR® poles?

Resources

Manual – Read chapter on ACTIVATOR® Technique

ACTIVATOR® Poles come with a User Guide and your clients can watch video instructions under “Getting Started”

Learn when to prescribe Urban Poles and the technique.

Questions:

1. When would you recommend the ACTIVATOR® Poles & technique vs. the Urban Poles & technique? After watching this chapter, determine if and why Urban Poling could provide a better outcome for some of your clients.
2. What are the five steps of the Urban Poling technique?
3. How can you use the poles in the winter time to prevent falls?

Note:  We often suggest that when a person is first learning Urban Poling it may be easier to adjust the length of your poles to a couple of inches shorter than your height (as indicated on the lower section of the Urban Poles), however as you become more proficient you may need to lengthen your poles to accommodate to your arm swinging forward with your elbows straight.

-If you are using the ACTIVATOR® Poles to do the Urban Poling technique, you also should lengthen the poles so you can easily maintain a straight arm (vs the ACTIVATOR® technique where your elbow is bent) and also as you become more proficient.   Also, change the tip to the boot shape tip.

-Winter walking inside your home/mall or indoor track – keep the rubber bell or boot tips on, so floors are not damaged.

Resources:

Manual – Read chapter on Urban Poling
Videos are available on www.urbanpoling.com under “Getting Started”

Learn when to prescribe Urban Poles and the technique.

Questions:

1. When would you recommend the ACTIVATOR® Poles & technique vs. the Urban Poles & technique? After watching this chapter, determine if and why Urban Poling could provide a better outcome for some of your clients.
2. What are the five steps of the Urban Poling technique?
3. How can you use the poles in the winter time to prevent falls?

Note:  We often suggest that when a person is first learning Urban Poling it may be easier to adjust the length of your poles to a couple of inches shorter than your height (as indicated on the lower section of the Urban Poles), however as you become more proficient you may need to lengthen your poles to accommodate to your arm swinging forward with your elbows straight.

-If you are using the ACTIVATOR® Poles to do the Urban Poling technique, you also should lengthen the poles so you can easily maintain a straight arm (vs the ACTIVATOR® technique where your elbow is bent) and also as you become more proficient. Also, change the tip to the boot shape tip.

-Winter walking inside your home/mall or indoor track – keep the rubber bell or boot tips on, so floors are not damaged.

Resources

Manual – Read chapter on Urban Poling

Videos are available on www.urbanpoling.com under “Getting Started”

This section discusses conditions which may require individual considerations before you can use poles with your clients.

Questions:

1. What changes do you find with John, who has an ABI, walking with and without poles?
2. What contraindications may prevent ACTIVATOR® poles from being appropriate?
3. Can you think of 3 clients that would benefit from using ACTIVATOR® poles?

Note:  Although some clients in these videos are using the Urban Poles (Series 300 or Adventure Poles), we recommend that clients with conditions use the ACTIVATOR® Poles and switch to using the boot shape tips for the Urban Poling technique.  The ACTIVATOR® 2 for taller clients will be available as of November 2018 and collapses shorter for travel.

Resources

Active Living Webinar Series – see recorded webinars with guest speakers on www.urbanpoling.com under “Education”
More information on Specific Conditions can be found on www.urbanpoling.com under “Health+Research”
Printable information sheets on different conditions can be found on www.urbanpoling.com under “Health+Research”

Specific Conditions – Extra Content

In this section you will have access to extra content.  Guest speakers comprising of leading therapists, researchers and diabetic educators will discuss how to use the ACTIVATOR® and/or Urban poles with specific conditions and/or new research.  These excerpts were edited from the live ACTIVATOR® webinar series.

Note: Although some clients in the videos are using the Urban Poles (Series 300 or Adventure Poles), we recommend that clients with conditions use the ACTIVATOR® Poles as the weight bearing capacity is 200 lbs/90 kg per pole and switch to using the boot shape tips for the Urban Poling technique. The ACTIVATOR® 2 for taller clients will be available as of November 2018 and collapses shorter for travel.

Resources

Pre/Post Hip and Knee Webinar

In this clip, Dr. Daniel Bechard PhD discusses his study at University of Western Ontario (2015) on Effects of Walking Technique on Knee Joint Loading.  This study explains how using the poles in front and applying a downward force on the ledge of the grip (like the ACTIVATOR® technique) reduces joint loading for participants with OA knee joint.

Active Living with Cancer Rehab (for professionals)

In this clip, physiotherapist Judy Boivin discusses benefits, precautions  and exercises with ACTIVATOR® or Urban Poles for breast cancer and colon cancer rehab.

Active Living with Spinal Stenosis

Physiotherapist Hiliary Jebson discusses a trial on the ACTIVATOR® poles with spinal stensois at the acute spinal unit at her hospital and guidelines on using walking poles with this condition.

Active Rehab for Traumatic Spinal Injuries

Physiotherapist Kristine Plourde describes 2 case studies of using the ACTIVATOR® poles with clients with traumatic spinal injuries.

Parkinson’s

Dr. Becky Farley (PhD) describes her PWR! Program and using poles with Parkinson’s clients.

Arthritis

Physiotherapist Peter Vavougios discusses how to use poles with clients with arthritic conditions.

For this final section, which includes client assessment and considerations for group exercises, open the manual and follow along with the presentation.

Questions:

1. What are the 5 functional assessment exercises for the ACTIVATOR® poles?
2. What considerations should be taken into account for lower level clients?
3. Where can you refer your clients to to purchase ACTIVATOR® poles?

Thank you for taking the ACTIVATOR® Course. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take our easy, five-minute survey, as we are always looking for ways to improve!