Research
Nordic Walking – also called fitness walking, pole walking, or exerstriding – has spread from Finland where 20 per cent of the population does it regularity, to the rest of Europe making it a major fitness trend.
In many European countries including Austria and Scotland, doctors have begun to prescribe Nordic Walking courses for certain patients, and in Germany the health benefits are believed so great that health insurance pays for people to invest in Nordic Walking instruction.
The following are a quick summary of published clinical trials and observational studies conducted on the positive impact of walking poles. For more detailed information feel free to contact us.
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
- A study published at the University of Northern Colorado measured the effects of Walking Pole use on shoulder function in Breast Cancer Survivors. The data suggests that using walking poles for eight weeks significantly improved muscular endurance of the upper body in breast cancer patients following treatment.
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Lisa K. Sprod, MS, Scott N. Drum, MS, Ann T. Bentz, PhD, Susan D. Carter, MD, and Carole M. Schneider, PhD at the University of Northern Colorado
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......to determine the effects of walking pole use on shoulder function in female 
Cardio-Respiratory Health Benefits
- Studies by Hendrickson (1993), Pocari (1997), Robaidek (1989), Church (2002) and Laukkanen (1998) have shown that Nordic walking causes heart rates to increase over normal walking. In addition, oxygen consumption is increased by, on average, 20%, with some participants going as high as 46%.
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Porcari JP, Hendrickson TL, Walter PR, Terry L, Walsko G.
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Rodgers CD, VanHeest JL, Schachter CL. Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science, Michigan State University, Energy expenditure during submaximal walking with Exerstriders. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 Apr;27(4):607-11
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Walter PR, Porcari JP, Brice G, Terry L., LaCrosse Exercise and Health Program, University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
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A. Karawan, J.P. Porcari, N.K. Butts, A.M. Postmus, L. Stoughton, & J. Larkin. La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, UW-La Crosse and Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Walking Or Exerstriding On Upper Body Strength And Endurance Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Supplement to VOL. 24, NO.5, May 1992
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K. Williams, R. Landsman, R.M. Otto, FACSM, and J. Wygand Human Performance Lab Adelphi University – Garden City, NY The Metabolic And Hemodynamic Response To The Use Of Exerstriders Vs Handweights During Walking. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise - May 1997, Volume 29, Issue 5
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Calorie Expenditure
- The Cooper Institute of Dallas conducted a study which showed that caloric expenditure increased 20% when Nordic walking compared to regular walking.
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A. Karawan, J.P. Porcari, N.K. Butts, A.M. Postmus, L. Stoughton, & J. Larkin. Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Walking Or Exerstriding On Upper Body Strength And Endurance La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, UW-La Crosse and Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI
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Less Stress On Knees
- According to a study by Wilson in 2001, the use of walking poles enabled subjects to walk at a faster speed with reduced vertical ground reaction forces, vertical knee joint reaction forces and supported movement.
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WILLSON, JOHN; TORRY, MICHAEL R.; DECKER, MICHAEL J.; KERNOZEK, THOMAS; STEADMAN, J. R.
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Young-Hoo Kwon, Lori R. Bolt, and Jaekun Shim Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA
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Bert H. Jacobson, Jennifer Kaloupek, and Doug B. Smith Oklahoma State University Load Carriage Force Production Comparison Between Standard and Anti-shock Trekking Poles Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Supplement to VOL. 24, NO.5, May 1992 |
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Posture Improvements
- A study by Afman, yet to be published, showed that participants in Nordic walking sessions had improved stability, mobility, and posture.
Psychological Benefits
- Another study at the University of Wisconsin measured the psychological profiles before and after 12 weeks of walking or Exerstrider training in adult women. This study concluded that Exerstrider showed significant improvements in depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, total mood disturbances, and total body-cathexis scores greater than just walking. Also, during Exerstriding, the use of both arms and legs working in opposition to each other (cross-patterning) may have stimulated a greater number of nerves and muscles, creating a more rhythmical and tranquil exercise.
Arterial Disease
- A study in the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise looked showed that people with arterial disease who Nordic walked benefited from increased cardiovascular fitness, increased exercise tolerance, lower perceived leg pain during moderate-intensity walking, improved skeletal muscle strength and endurance, and better weight control. Patients with favorable responses in 4 to 8 weeks would be maintained on an exercise program, thus potentially avoiding the need for surgery. (Collins et. al, 2003).
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COLLINS, E. G., W. E. LANGBEIN, C. OREBAUGH, C. BAMMERT, K. HANSON, D. REDA, L. C. EDWARDS, and F. N. LITTOOY PoleStriding Exercise and Vitamin E for Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 35(3):384-393, March 2003.
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Parkinson’s Disease
- Published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, a study on pole striding with patients afflicted Parkinson’s Disease showed significant positive effect in terms of exercise tolerance, perceived functional independence and quality of life (Baatile et. al, 2000).
Wheel Chair Users
- Tom Rutlin of Exerstrider & James Rimmer, Ph.D., (Director National Research Center on Physical Activity) are also studying how walking poles can offer both an alternative means of propelling their WCs and an effective way of exercising large core strength upper body muscles.