Nordic Walking is my favourite exercise but last May, while visiting in Holland I was encouraged to try the Dutch favourite mode of transport. When mounting the bike on wet grass the bike slipped from under me and the impact of the handlebar falling on my foot caused a major foot injury. All the metatarsals were dislocated with the adjoining ligaments torn. Although the foot was dramatically swollen, discoloured, and I could not stand on it, it was a few days before I would get a diagnosis and a rush trip back to Canada for surgery My Nordic poles acted as a type of crutch to get me to the hospital and clinic for medical support but more importantly the poles supported me through the rehab period. After three months in a cast I needed to aggressively work my leg to get back the mass of muscle lost through the long immobility that was needed for the ligaments to heal. The physio stretching exercises were helpful but the recommendation to use a cane instead of poles was not. The nordic poles not only took weight of the foot as the muscles and ligaments stretched and healed, they also provided bilateral support. I used them in the house and everywhere I went, including mall excursions. It has been seven months since the injury and I am basically back to normal again and doing much better than the physio predicted. I have always been grateful for the poles and how they enable me to exercise beyond my limits without them and even more so now. The moral of this story clearly is to always travel with poles, in good health and when joint mobility is a challenge and perhaps stay away from bicycles! Sandy
