Legacy
What are we leaving behind?
We are leaving behind a set of Nordic walking poles that have sensors embedded in them. These sensors can track various metrics such as pressure exerted on the poles, position of the poles in 3D space, and heart rate of the user. The data from these sensors are collected onto an app, allowing users to see real time statistics. The sensor suite is designed to be clipped onto any pre-existing pole allowing anyone to turn their current poles into a “smart walking pole” .
What is the impact?
The impact of this project is twofold. First, it can help researchers to collect data on Nordic walking and its effects on users in a more realistic setting, compared to what is currently out there. The ability to bring the laboratory anywhere leads to accurate new insights, and innovations in the field of rehabilitation. Second, it can help individuals to track their fitness progress and make informed decisions about their health. Thus, the major and more immediate impact is what our project can do to advance medical research, while the second impact is more of a future impact.
What plans do we have for others to continue my work?
We plan to share the blueprints, literature review, and essentially a design portfolio to our project partner who can recreate our poles and make improvements as they see fit. As this is the first kind of portable laboratory product, there is room for lots of improvements but most importantly it would require approved ethical documentation if the poles were to be used in a research setting or even as an approved medical device. Ultimately, we have created the foundation for the concept of a portable laboratory and smart walking stick. However, none of us plan to continue this project. We have decided to hand off the project along with relevant documents to our project partner. From there on, the project will no longer be our responsibility.
What is the community/
stakeholder impact?
The community and stakeholders impacted by this project include individuals who are interested in Nordic walking, fitness enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, and researchers. By providing a new tool for tracking and measuring Nordic walking, this project can help to promote healthy lifestyles and advance the field of rehabilitation. We know that researchers have been interested in Nordic walking and its effects on those with cardiovascular problems and arthritis – particularly in the knees and hips, along with other health variables. However, researchers have a hard time conducting longitudinal studies because current biomedical capturing devices limit users and researchers to a laboratory. Using our set of Nordic walking poles with embedded sensors allows the user and researchers to bring the lab with them which can generate accurate and longitudinal data. Nordic walking has also been proposed as a form of rehabilitation and with our poles, it can allow rehabilitation to be done in the clinic and in the community. The integration of the app allows users to monitor their progress and for clinicians to ensure the clients are showing improvement outside the clinic. Thus, our project impacts the community of researchers who can inform healthcare professionals about the use of our nordic walking poles as a medical device, which promotes better rehabilitation support in the community, and improves the health and wellness of clients.
