RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Novel walking pole gait pattern improves activity in an older adult with chronic low back pain
JF BMJ Case Reports
JO BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e245807
DO 10.1136/bcr-2021-245807
VO 14
IS 12
A1 Prost, Evan L
A1 Abbott, Carmen C
A1 Dannecker, Erin A
A1 Willis, Brad W
YR 2021
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/14/12/e245807.abstract
AB A 65-year-old woman with chronic low back pain participated in a 1-week community walking poles course. Although the participant received instruction in the standard Nordic walking method, she independently adopted a novel, modified, two-point gait pattern. Subsequently, her pain and activity tolerance using walking poles were monitored at 6 and 12 months. The participant ambulated two times the distance and reported lower ratings of perceived exertion and pain at 6-month and 12month follow-ups when walking with poles compared with walking without poles. This case highlights the potential effect of respecting patient preference within the clinical decision-making model. Doing so empowered a participant with chronic low back pain to adopt a novel, self-selected gait pattern and improve her short-term and long-term outcomes associated with chronic musculoskeletal disease.