We recently asked our walkers for some testimonials about how walking with poles had helped them navigate their hip and knee replacement operations and recovery!

To say we were inundated is an understatement so in this article we thought we would share some of them with simple advice for those who might be waiting for or recovering from a lower body joint replacement.

Hip and knee pain is debilitating and whilst the advice is to stay active and avoid weight gain whilst waiting for surgery, that’s not easy. The less people are able to walk, the greater the risk of losing leg strength, core strength and good posture. This in turn impacts on cardiovascular fitness, balance, and confidence – often resulting in weight gain. Using poles can help reduce the pressure on lower body joints and equally as important, aid activity levels, good posture and balance.

So why two poles? The key is to work the body in as natural and balanced way as possible, using one pole will result in a twist to one side and can affect posture as well as cause an imbalance between the muscles in  the side of the body which is taking the weight and that which is not. Using a frame or walker can help but often cause the walker to lean forward, losing that core engagement and good posture which is so vital when it comes to the post operative recovery.

Using two poles correctly will work both sides of the body in harmony, engage the core and aid a good forward looking posture. This helps to maintain good gait with the added bonus of keeping the upper body in good shape (and burning off some extra calories to boot).

Our walkers told us their experiences pre and post op.

Trish (pictured) who recently had knee replacement surgery told us…

Before my op. I was able to continue walking with a friend ( who I also introduced to Walx Poles) right up until almost the the day of my total knee replacement surgery.

I was walking several miles pre op using my poles, albeit, not without pain and both my consultant and physio said that I had a good level of fitness prior to my surgery. This definitely helped my recovery too.

The day after my surgery the physio came and gave me crutches. She was amazed how well I could walk using alternate arm and leg technique. I told her that I was more used to that technique because of my Nordic walking experience. This allowed me to weight bear more effectively. I truly believe that everyone who has a knee or Hip Replacement should be introduced to this as a matter of course.

I honestly wouldn’t be as far forward in my rehab or be able to walk as far as I can now without my poles.

Lyn is 72 and has two hip replacements.  The left hip in 2 November 22 and the right hip February 24 she agrees that being fit before the operations helped enormously and poles massively aid recovery. She told us..

The benefit of using poles whilst rehabilitating is that they help to keep you walking upright once you are able to walk without the use of a crutch which is never 100% right for your height.  11 days after my recent operation I was able to walk with one crutch, after 3 weeks I was able to walk indoors without a crutch most of the time.  I was able to start driving again after 4 weeks and from 6 weeks onwards I have been able to walk on hard surfaces for 1-1.5 hrs and up to 3 miles using Nordic poles for off road walking.

It’s pretty hard to motivate yourself to stay active at the best of times, but when managing pain it can add to a temptation to stay seated! Joining a sociable supportive group can help enormously especially when the Instructor is knowledgeable and able to tailor the sessions to exactly what you need. Most Nordic Walking UK and WALX groups have specific sessions where the focus is on mobility not miles – delivered in fun filled friendly sessions you are far more likely to attend! These sessions also include those key essentials like strength, balance, flexibility and of course… posture!

Jane had bi lateral hip replacement surgery and she adds...

I wanted to share my experiences of the benefits of being part of the WALX group pre and post bi lateral hip replacement surgery.

I joined WALX in the summer of 2021, pre surgery. The regular walks assisted in maintaining a good level of fitness which helped prior to the bi lateral hip replacement surgery that took place in March 2022. The recovery period was much smoother and the support I received from our instructor, was invaluable as I returned to full health. The group provides an excellent way to keep fit, maintain a healthy weight and support good mental wellbeing. -I would definitely recommend the group to anyone in a similar situation.

Tina agrees that her group provided encouragement……….

On the 7th march 2023 I had a total hip replacement (hip and joint). I had a few conversations with Matt about joining WALX Preston, who encouraged me to join and see what I thought. My surgeon on my last appointment recommended that I should try Nordic walking. I have never looked back since joining. The places I have been to and seen, the people I have walked with and laughed with has been my tonic. Due to the encouragement and the massive support I have received, I have completed half of Ullswater walk, Which is 10 miles and this was completed 5 months after my operation. If it wasn’t for my walking colleagues I would not be as fit as I am now, the group also encourages me to do my best and never leave me behind. I love my walking group.

Malcolm echos the importance of the group and tells us that he decided to get fit after his operation…

After years of slowing down and doing less walking due to the pain of an arthritic hip I had a new one fitted 7 years ago.  Once I had recovered from the surgery I really wanted to get fit and mobile once more and my Specialist had mentioned Nordic Walking.  I tried a taster session run by Gill of WALX (and then enrolled in a course). I could immediately see the benefits as walking over varied terrain became easier and faster; so my stamina improved and steep hills were no longer something to dread on long walks.  The regular and very varied Walks available have meant seeing amazing parts of the countryside and meeting lots of lovely people.

All great testimonials from people who have managed to gain advice friendships and support – this includes guidance on the types of poles to use depending on your mobility, fitness levels and aims for once surgery is complete.

All those mentioned above have used either traditional nordic walking poles or the strapless ergonomic poles (pictured) which are now used in our Power of Poles workshops all over the UK see TOTAL BODY WALKING POLES. In all cases the aim was to aid propulsion which helps to make the user lighter on their feet whilst working the core and upper body. These poles are lightweight, easy to master and empowering!  We would not advise using trekking poles with a simple looped strap as these often require a tighter grip which can result in less propulsion and compromise the wrist position – both of which can affect natural walking stride and comfort.

Those who do require increased stability might want to explore the new WALX ABILITY poles (pictured) which have a more robust shaft for weight bearing and a supportive handle for those looking to walk with a shorter stride pattern. The handle has a unique ‘breakaway’ to help when wishing to use the hand to hold onto something else. This also reduces the risk of wrist or thumb damage should a fall occur.

Both these and the XCELERATOR model specifically designed for rehabilitation walking can be purchased vat free for those requiring them for rehabilitation. Our experts include rehabilitation specialists so pick up the phone to ask about the right poles for YOU and the vat exemption procedure 0333 1234 540.