PARE0004 Let’s move with arthritis! – nordic walking for people with rmds

Background Slovak League against Rheumatism (SLAR) identified a need among its members to provide support when it comes to physical exercise and rheumatic diseases. Nordic Walking is fitness walking with specially designed poles. It uses 90% of the skeletal muscles. Nordic Walking is ideal for neck, shoulder and back problems while it also reduces pressure on knees and joints. Poles propel the walker along, making it easier to move faster than normal without feeling the effort. With the cooperation with the Slovak Nordic Walking Association, SLAR provides trainings in local branches and encourages individuals to do physical activities while monitoring their progress. Objectives The aim of the project Let’s Move with Arthritis! is to improve treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of RMDs, to support healthy lifestyle and thus lower the impact of RMDs on individuals and society through a structured training on the correct Nordic Walking techniques. Methods The project Let’s Move with Arthritis! started in Septemer 2017 when SLAR obtained 5 pairs of Nordic Walking poles for each of our 17 local branches and clubs. SLAR provided trainings with the cooperation of the Slovak Nordic Walking Association. Individuals were tracking their progress using excel sheets. The goal was to achieve 1 000 000 steps for people with RMDs by 14 October when SLAR held its World Arthritis Day event. Steps of all individuals in local branches were summed up and the goal was not only achieved, it was overcome. Results A total of 506 individuals participated in the Nordic Walking trainings from September until 14 October 2017. They walked 1 144 km and made 3 386 517 steps. Each of the participating branches provided SLAR with a final report that showed that the cooperation with the instructors of the Slovak Nordic Walking Association was excellent. The activities showed that people with RMDs walked with enthusiasm. The local branch in Kosice made the most steps – over 800 000. Participants were keen on continuing Nordic Walking trainings also without instructors and beyond October 2017. Conclusions The project Let’s Move with Arthritis! proves that even people affected by RMDs are able to do physical exercise, in our case Nordic Walking. Importantly, the project provided simplified and step-by-step instructions to Nordic Walking with the aid of the Slovak Nordic Walking Association. The instructors provided individuals with warm-up techniques, correct Nordic Walking techniques and cool-down techniques after each session. The aim of the project was to reach at least 1 000 000 steps for people with RMDs but it also proved that people with RMDs benefit from physical activities like Nordic Walking when using correct techniques. It can improve their quality of life, increase mobility, improve coordination and strengthen the ligaments. Each participant expressed the will to continue with the project beyond October 2017. Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the Slovak Nordic Walking Association for their guidance and support. Disclosure of Interest None declared