We are preparing at Balance Walking ( Nordic Walking – the generic term ) to meet the needs of Doctors, Physical Therapist, Coaches, and as well all those whom want to participate in the clear trending towards physical activity as the best medicine to reduce or eliminate disease processes. We know that daily physical activity is vital for everyone regardless of ones current health or health challenge.

Pole Walking and Breast Cancer

We are gathering teams of professionals and community ambassadors  ( please, if you believe you can play a part – contact Terry D. Kennedy the Exec. Dir. of Balance Walking at tkennedy@balancewalking.com ) that want to be part of our beta Balance Walking Breast Cancer program. The program will open to 100s of participants using the Poles as prescribed by their Doctors and Therapist whether for  Prehab, Rehab and or Maintenance.  We will be able to provide the teaching materials and poles at a much reduced cost so that no one will be left out of the program.  We will encourage each person to participate with a minimum of one individual in their weekly activity for a minimum of 12weeks.

To be honest this activity attracts a lot of positive attention, so you may find yourself with a good size group.

The entire Balance Walking program includes several key Wellness Pillars that can be reviewed on our main Balance Walking website . This post is meant to announce how we will begin to integrate the Poles as Step One.

We know that Nordic Walking delivers as the research has shown all the obvious health and fitness benefits that lead to prevention and an increase in the QOL (Quality of Life).

I am including an article done in 2009, that is really just a snippet below that suggest the varying Pole Walking benefits to Lymphedema (sometimes  occur with Breast Cancer patients due to treatment and surgery side-effect from Breast Cancer).

How to Do Arm Lymphedema Exercises

Pole walking, also called Nordic walking, uses your arms, shoulders, upper chest and back muscles. While you’re getting a good cardio workout, all your major joints are exercised, and your muscles will get stretched and lengthened.

When done properly, pole walking is done while your arms are relaxed. Your shoulders will be working in a swinging motion, similar to shoulder flexion, but with a greater range of motion. This continuous motion should help excess lymph fluid move back into circulation and help you avoid arm lymphedema.

Pole Walking – Standing Exercise

Remember: Always wear your compression sleeve on your affected arm during exercise.

Use a set of fitness walking poles that have a hand strap at the top. The poles should remain behind your stride and always point diagonally backwards as you walk. These will help you exercise your shoulders, assist with balance, and provide support for knee joints and leg muscles. Keep your shoulders relaxed and hold the poles near your body.

1. Step forward with your right foot, and swing your left arm forward, up to waist height. Your left pole hits the ground just behind your right foot.
2. Keep your torso upright, don’t lean forward as you walk.
3. Let your right arm straighten out behind you, forming a line that ends at the tip of your right pole. Roll your left foot from heel to toe as you walk, pushing off with your toe.
4. Alternate feet and poles, while maintaining good posture as you pole walk.

For a complete explanation of pole walking technique and to learn more about the benefits of this exercise, visit the About.com Walking site.

_Sources:

_{The Effect Of Gentle Arm Exercise And Deep Breathing On Secondary Arm Lymphedema. A.L. Moseley, N.B. Piller, C.J. Carati. Lymphology 38 (2005) 136-145.}

_{Exercise and Arm Lymphedema. Karin Johansson, RPT, LT, Lymphedema Unit, Lund University Hospital, Dr. Med. Sci, Dep. of Health Science, Lund University, Sweden. Physiotherapy Theory Practice, 2009 Apr; 25(3):165-73.}

“Exercise is the Best Medicine.”

Yes, we all are hoping that researchers can find a cure to cancer. Many of us are at some point in our lives, touched by cancer – whether it is our family, friends or even ourselves. So while seeking a cure we are now finding more and more research evidence that says – “Exercise is the Best Medicine.”

We are gaining headline attention by using phrases like; “Magic Pill” or “Wonder Drug” to describe the positive effects of Exercise over Cancer. That worries me to the extent that, catchy marketing media phrases used to draw attention can also turn people away from exercise. Remember – the old “too good to be true” line. I am more comfortable with leading others to exercise with one of Jack’s “LaLanne-isms.” He once said, “Exercise is King, nutrition is Queen, put them together and you’ve got a kingdom.” Having said that, some things never change, and our human nature unfortunately only moves when we can get something for nothing, threatened, or are afraid of losing something.

For years, we’ve known that a healthy diet and regular physical exercise is key to preventing cancer. The latest research is finding that for those who have already suffered from cancer, physical exercise can dramatically help with cancer patients’ recovery and long-term health. Macmillan Cancer Support, a British cancer charity, stated in a report that just 150 minutes of moderate exercise such as walking or gardening per week could reduce a breast cancer patient’s risk of recurrence or dying by 40 percent, reduce a prostate cancer patient’s risk of dying by 30 percent, and also help counteract negative cancer side effects such as fatigue, depression, osteoporosis and heart disease for all cancer patients. Additionally, getting more physical exercise can reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 50 percent.

Many Health Professionals Unaware of Benefits

However, despite strong emerging evidence that being physically active could dramatically improve cancer patients’ recovery and long-term health, a Macmillan online survey of 400 health professionals who deal with cancer patients found that many are not aware of this and most are not talking to their patients about it. Over half of the primary care doctors, nurses, and oncologists surveyed do not speak to their cancer patients about the benefits of physical activity, or at best they speak to just a few of them.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, says, “Cancer patients would be shocked if they knew just how much benefit physical activity could have on their recovery and long-term health, in some cases reducing their chances of having to go through the grueling ordeal of treatment all over again.”

Exercise Not Just an Add-on to Care

According to Jane Maher, chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, “The advice I would previously have given to one of my patients would have been to ‘take it easy.’ This has now changed significantly because of the recognition that, if physical exercise were a drug, it would be hitting the headlines. There really needs to be a cultural change so that health professionals see physical activity as an integral part of cancer after-care, not just an optional add-on.” The Macmillan Cancer Support has created and is providing online many great tools and references that can be used when you are ready to begin exercise. One is the Move More Pack is a complete guide to becoming more active.

Balance Walking is Exercise for Everyone

We are training Masters, Coaches and Walk Leaders to teach and mentor new Balance Walkers beginning in the US and around the world. One of our new initiatives is to provide all of the local Susan G Komen Affiliates an Exercise and Prevention activity, by using the Poles for all their events, active walkers and supporters. In fact, even those who can not participate in the Komen Events, will support SGK with each pair of Balance Walking Poles purchased be directing a portion to go to Curing Breast Cancer.

Contact Terry Kennedy at tkennedy@balancewalking.com to get started with your Balance Walking Poles and program. It’s easy to learn, it’s for everyone and of course it’s a great exercise. If you might consider regular walking, then you will be excited to know that the benefits are multiplied almost 2 times when you grab your poles and move for as little as 5minutes at time.

Get Healthy — Get Exercise

In keeping with searching for answers I like to bring awareness in resources as they come available like this one linked here that support being active.  This article discusses findings and in essence states “When a cancer patient reports persistent fatigue following treatment, it is something that deserves attention.  It may be a symptom of other things that matter.”

Balance Walking because of each of the 4 pillars that involve more than just the physical activity of planting poles and moving, we believe the positive contributions to those challenged with good health may benefit with Balance Walking, in improved health, in that moment and beyond…