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Activator UK — our team helping people regain mobility

About Us — Activator UK

Your Rehab Pole People

Footprint on the moon — aiming for the stars

For many people the thought of regaining their own mobility feels as likely as walking on the Moon. We are here to make that possible and allow you to aim for the stars.

Activator UK — Our Mission

Quite simply we want to bring the mobility and health benefits that the wonderful Activator Poles deliver, to the people of the UK who can truly benefit from them. Whether it is in use for extreme rehabilitation, or just simply being able to walk again without fear of falling — we want to help as many people as we can “be their best” when it comes to movement and body fitness.

We have no interest in selling our Poles and our expert devised rehab exercise videos, which is why we offer a 30 day “no quibble” guarantee on all Poles. There are literally millions of people in the UK who can benefit from using the Activator Poles, and we even want to create the Activator UK Foundation (coming soon) that will gift pairs of poles to those organisations and some individuals who could benefit from them but have no means to buy them.

We are so passionate about you and your loved ones all having the best mobility possible, as when we lose that freedom to move we can quickly experience — social isolation, anxiety, poor mental health and declining physical health. That is why we say “Try the Activator Rehab Poles — because movement is life”.

Our Heritage and Our People

Born in North America, in Canada to be precise, but now known as the Rehab Pole across Canada, USA and many other countries. Our heritage comes from early Pole development by body and movement experts almost twenty years ago, and then with growing evidence-based rehab exercise course development specifically for the Activator Poles.

In North America the Activator Poles are often known as “Urban Poling Poles”, but in the UK we trade as Activator UK and only refer to our Rehab Poles as Activator Poles.

Adoption by hundreds of Physiotherapists, clinicians and class providers has then seen huge growth in sales directly to patients and the public, who can benefit from the Activator Poles’ unique qualities and courses.

Map showing the reach of Activator / Urban Poling worldwide
The Activator UK Foundation — gifting poles to those in need

Activator UK — Foundation

Using our own business funds and contributions from partners, supporters, and like-minded people, Activator UK is building a program of providing Activator rehab poles to people and organisations that would have no way of buying them yet would greatly benefit from improved mobility and health.

The more successful we are as a business, the more we can afford to give to those most in need. The foundation’s work generates no income or profit for our business, and we welcome approaches by external organisations interested in benefiting from the supply of our Activator Poles at no cost. Because Movement is Life.

Diana Oliver — Urban Poling Inc.

Diana Oliver

Urban Poling Inc. Owner and CEO North America

Urban Poling Inc

Diana is a dynamic business professional with an extensive background in marketing, sales and fitness. She has a passion for promoting the many health benefits of Urban Poling, which stems from her personal experience. Diana combined Urban Poling with other positive lifestyle choices to regain a healthy weight and improve her cardiovascular health following two strenuous pregnancies.

Her positive recovery has instilled a drive to help change the face of health care in Canada. In 2012 she became a certified Urban Poling instructor and taught classes in her own Pilates business. In 2014, she became co-owner of Urban Poling.

Now the key driving force behind the huge success and growth of the Activator Poles and the inspiration for all we do at Activator UK.

Joy A Cochran PT, DPT

N. America Clinical Evidence Specialist

Joy Cochran is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Owner of JOY Explorations and a member of Urban Poling’s Clinical Evidence Team / Master Trainer. Joy’s passion is to empower clients, specifically older adults and those with neurologic conditions, to play, explore movement, and go on adventures to promote healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.

She is a Credentialed Balance and Falls Professional and Certified Exercise Expert for the Aging Adult (CEEAA) through the Geriatric Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association, and also holds certifications specific to treating Parkinson’s Disease — PWR! Moves, LSVT BIG, and Rock Steady Boxing Clinician.

Joy A Cochran PT, DPT
Wendy Walker — Technical Director

Wendy Walker

Technical Director (UPI Ltd T/A Activator UK)

Wendy is a neuro physio working in the UK for over 40 years, both in the NHS and private practice. As a senior rehabilitation physio, Wendy was attracted to the Activator Pole several years ago and was one of the first to adopt its use in the United Kingdom for Rehabilitation.

Recently retired from the NHS, Wendy is spearheading our drive at Activator UK to create awareness of the Poles’ benefits to both consumers and clinicians alike.

Meet the Activator UK Team

The people behind the Activator — passionate about movement, rehabilitation, and helping you live your best life.

Anna Azaryan — Operations Manager

Anna Azaryan

Operations Manager

Rodrigo Silva — Marketing Manager

Rodrigo Silva

Marketing Manager

Barb Gormley — Director of Education

Barb Gormley

Director of Education

Giselle Giammarco — Customer Service

Giselle Giammarco

Customer Service

Kelsey — Operations

Kelsey

Operations

Sandra — Operations

Sandra

Operations

Ryan — E-Commerce Manager

Ryan

E-Commerce Manager

Anna Harding — Activator at Home Video Presenter

Anna Harding

Activator at Home Video Presenter

Lisa Limper — Sales & Marketing

Lisa Limper

Sales & Marketing

Want to Join Our Mission?

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Customer reviews

Real reviews. Real confidence.

Hear from customers using Activator Poles in everyday life.

All reviewed products

4.9 out of 5 · 34 verified reviews

✓ Verified purchase

Great poles

I purchased these poles are finding traditional walking poles were not sturdy enough for me due to them flexing in the middle. These poles feel so much more stable and secure when I am using them, so glad I took the plunge and purchased them.

✓ Verified purchase

Walking towards the future

My Neurophysiotherapist uses these and suggested they may be useful to help me with my balance when walking. She was right! Because they can be height adjusted, means they’re great for reassurance but I don’t need to lean on it, meaning I can walk in a more upright position. It’s still early days but it’s a great tool.

✓ Verified purchase

Excellent product

Fantastic walking poles. Very comfortable grips.

✓ Verified purchase

Crutches to poles

I got the Activator poles for my husband who has a spinal cord injury and drop foot and needs to walk with crutches and l can honestly say that he walks better holds himself better and has a better stride so hopefully he will be able to get rid of the crutches and just use the poles at the moment he can’t use them all the time as he gets very tired using them so we are building the time he uses them slowly

✓ Verified purchase

Good poles with comfortable handles

Good poles with comfortable handles. Great for stability with the rubber base. Slightly heavier than I expected as I also use Nordic poles. I find that the Nordic poles better for quicker walking.

✓ Verified purchase

Enables better walking pattern and balance.

It is early days in my recovery but these poles have enabled me to walk short distances and increase my confidence in being able to walk in the future.

✓ Verified purchase

Exactly what I needed

After many years of impaired mobility . I am learning to walk more freely again. I have used other poles before and am finding these much better . Both for their strength and compatibility and for their angles and ease of use as I grow in confidence in walking fully upright without feel of falling.

✓ Verified purchase

Simply brilliant

Helped bring back stability to my wobbly world. I love to attend live gigs and using my pole for these events has been amazing. The off road tips have been excellent for dance and general motoring around the woods and paths. The hand grips are the game changer here vs other basic poles in the ether. As someone crippled with early onset severe degenerative arthritis, the comfy, ergonomic and supportive handgrips, make these. Please find some pics from a recent gig at Cardiff Castle where I was also interviewed post-gig over the use of the amazing haptic vests for deaf and hard of hearing people (which I am 😊)

✓ Verified purchase

Took a while……..

It took me a while to master the technique but once I had practiced walking slowly I was soon up to speed. They are very beneficial to correct posture and upper body and I would certainly recommend them to anyone who has balance issues like myself.

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Confidence Booster

I have Ms and progressively had more difficulty walking leading to many trips and falls during which I had broken 3 separate toes on 3 separate occasions! I then stopped going out for walks because of these falls as I had lost confidence in walking! I like to stay as fit as I can within my limitations! My mother in law suggested walking sticks which I already have quite a collection but never felt comfortable on them mainly because I needed one for each leg and also found they put pressure on my wrists! I started googling and came across the activator poles! I took the plunge and ordered a set. I now walk 2000 steps a day on these poles, not a lot I know but for someone with ms it can seem like miles! I find they keep me balanced and give a bit of a workout too! When my foot drags the poles stop me from falling and they make me feel balanced and supported, they have given me my confidence back to go out and walk so I thank you Activator for giving mw this new lease of life opportunity 😁

✓ Verified purchase

Activator poles

Walking tall again with my new poles.

✓ Verified purchase

Amazing product

Amazing product. My wife needed them for walking to help with her lupus. Has been a game changer. Balance and confidence! Love the Activator Poles!!