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Testimonials...

“The Exerstrider poles can be used in a myriad of ways to address a number of physical therapy interventions and diagnoses. The poles provide stability and a lower-extremity unloading effect that is beneficial in the later stages of hip, knee and ankle rehabilitation.  Because it engages the core during gait (you can feel the abdominals contacting at heel strike/pole plant and the latissimus dorsi/lumbar paraspinals at toe off/pole push off), it is also advantageous for lumbar rehabilitation.  I especially like to use them with patients who have axial flexion collapse postures (think osteoporosis) as the poles encourage neutral thoracic and head postures. 
I recommend poles to other PTs primarily because of the versatility and simplicity of walking with poles. Using poles can be a valuable too from developing core and lumbar stability, to un-weighting lower extremities, to improving exercise tolerance for patients with claudication, Parkinson’s disease, ataxia and arthritis.  In many cases using poles will also have significant psycho-social advantages over the use of walkers, crutches and canes.  They can even be used by wheelchair users.”
– Maurice Dumit, MPT

 “I work with patients with postural problems, back pain, and/or limitation of motion secondary to osteoarthritis of the knees and hips, post-surgical (knee, hip, ankle) and neurologically-impaired patients.  Patients with osteoporosis, back pain and postural problems can benefit in many ways.

• Walking poles promote a more upright posture and gait and thus will help stimulate more normal weight-bearing forces and muscle contractions on the bones.
• For people with back pain, the poles help un-weight the back and lower extremities, thus helping relieve back pain.
• Poles bring a weight-bearing element into the upper extremities.
• With each pole plant there is a co-contraction of the abdominals and the other core and postural muscles.

Exerstride method Nordic walking offers a more motivational, fun and exciting way for patients to exercise.  Walking, in and of itself, while useful and recommended, can be boring.  Walking with poles adds elements of support, and increased level of workout, and can also help patients with balance problems that would prohibit them from getting the most out of a walking workout. 
I absolutely recommend Nordic walking classes to every PT facility I visit. Therapists can offer classes and this appeals to a lot of patients.  Also, PTs are getting more and more into wellness practices and this helps take patients further into that arena.  Patients seem to enjoy the idea of the fun way to exercise and so it doesn’t seem so much like exercise.  More patients that I had ever thought possible have responded well to the use of the poles.”
–Sara Meeks, PT, MS, GCS