The Research Behind Nordic Pole Walking

General Studies

A broad overview of research examining the overall benefits and efficacy of Nordic pole walking.

• Nordic pole walking engages more than 90% of the body's muscles.
• Compared with walking without poles, it raises both the percentage of muscles used and the calories burned per hour.
• "Nordic Walking — a whole-body sport." Interview by Dr. Henrike Ottenjahn. Bachfischer K. MMW Fortschr Med. 2005;147(29-30).
• Comparison of kinematic and kinetic parameters between Nordic walking, walking and running. Kleindienst FI et al. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2006;20(1):25-30.
• Effects of Nordic pole walking on functional capacity in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. Keast ML, Reid R, Slovinec-D'Angelo M, McDonnell L. Minto Prevention & Rehabilitation Centre, Ottawa, 2010.

1. Cardiovascular System

Research on how Nordic pole walking impacts heart health, blood pressure, and circulation.

• Influence on coronary and peripheral vascular diseases (Walter, 1996; Stoughton/Larkin/Karawan, 1992; Parkatti et al., 2003; Koskinen et al., 2003).
• Lowers high blood pressure (Ishikawa et al., 1999; C. Diehm, 2007).
• Up to 25% more oxygen uptake than walking without poles (Porcari et al., 1997; Morss et al., 2001; Jordan, 2001).

2. Musculoskeletal System

Studies exploring the effects on joints, bones, muscles, and overall mobility.

• Diminishing neck and shoulder tension and pain (Anttila et al., 1999).
• Chronic joint problems; load reduction on lower back, hips and knees (Mayo Clinic, 2008; Wilson, 2001; Kwon, 2008).
• Mechanics of pole walking in subjects with chronic knee problems (Willson et al., 2001; Kwon, Bolt & Shi, Ball State University, 2008).
• Immediate improvement in walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication (Oakley, Zwierska, Tew, Beard & Saxton, 2008).
• Posture enhancement, segmental stability, and lower-trunk/posture control (Koskinen et al., 2003).
• Functional benefits (Parkatti et al., 2002).
• Gait modification strategies for altering medial knee joint load: a systematic review. Simic M, Hinman RS, Wrigley TV, Bennell KL, Hunt MA. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010.
• Does moderate-to-high intensity Nordic walking improve functional capacity and pain in fibromyalgia? A prospective RCT. Mannerkorpi K, Nordeman L, Cider A, Jonsson G. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(5):R189.
• Supervised and non-supervised Nordic walking in the treatment of chronic low-back pain: a single-blind RCT. Hartvigsen J, Morsø L, Bendix T, Manniche C. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010;11:30.
• Inverse dynamic analysis of the lower extremities during Nordic walking, walking and running. Stief F, Kleindienst FI, Wiemeyer J, Wedel F, Campe S, Krabbe B. J Appl Biomech. 2008;24(4):351-9.
• Nordic walking — is it suitable for patients with fractured vertebra? Wendlova J. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2008;109(4):171-6.
• Nordic walking and chronic low back pain: design of a randomized clinical trial. Morsø L, Hartvigsen J, Puggaard L, Manniche C. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2006;7:77.

3. Metabolism & Diabetes

Clinical findings on metabolic improvements and blood sugar management through pole walking.

• Effects of Nordic walking and exercise in type-2 diabetes mellitus: an RCT. Gram B, Christensen R, Christiansen C, Gram J. Clin J Sport Med. 2010;20(5):355-61.
• Influence on medication in patients with type-2 diabetes (Nischwitz et al., Medical University Munich, 2006; Clinic Bad Wiessee, 2006).
• Physical activity and type-2 diabetes (Siegmund T., Clinicum Munich / Bogenhausen, 2009).
• Physiological responses to Nordic walking, walking and jogging. Schiffer T, Knicker A, Hoffman U, Harwig B, Hollmann W, Strüder HK. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006;98(1):56-61.
• Energy expenditure and comfort during Nordic walking with different pole lengths. Hansen EA, Smith G. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23(4):1187-94.
• Weight loss through Nordic pole walking (Heikkila et al., 2004).
• Intensity of Nordic walking in young females with different peak O2 consumption. Jürimäe T, Meema K, Karelson K, Purge P, Jürimäe J. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2009;29(5):330-4.
• Changes in VO2max, blood lipids and waist circumference with endurance training as a function of ovarian aging. Hagner W, Hagner-Derengowska M, Wiacek M, Zubrzycki IZ. Menopause. 2009;16(5):1009-13.
• Energy cost and pole forces during Nordic walking under different surface conditions. Schiffer T, Knicker A, Dannl R, Strüder HK. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):663-8.
• Field testing of physiological responses associated with Nordic walking. Church TS, Earnest CP, Morss GM. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2002;73(3):296-300.

4. Mental Health

Evidence on the psychological and cognitive benefits of Nordic pole walking.

• Nordic walking and depression (Willemer C, Krüger K, Mooren FC, Völker K, Knecht S, Flöel A. University of Münster, Germany, 2008).
• Comparing exercise in Parkinson's disease — the Berlin LSVT BIG study. Ebersbach G, Ebersbach A, Edler D, et al. Mov Disord. 2010;25(12):1902-8.
• Nordic walking improves mobility in Parkinson's disease. van Eijkeren FJ, Reijmers RS, Kleinveld MJ, et al. Mov Disord. 2008;23(15):2239-43.
• Physical activity of depressed patients and their motivation to exercise: Nordic walking in family practice. Suija K, Pechter Ü, Kalda R, et al. Int J Rehabil Res. 2009;32(2):132-8.
• Effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and fatigue in women with primary Sjögren's syndrome. Strömbeck BE, Theander E, Jacobsson LT. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2007;46(5):868-71.
• Physiological and perceptual responses to Nordic walking in obese middle-aged women vs. normal walking. Figard-Fabre H, Fabre N, Leonardi A, Schena F. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010;108(6):1141-51.

5. Respiratory

Research examining lung function and respiratory improvements associated with pole walking.

• Nordic walking improves daily physical activity in COPD: a randomized controlled trial. Breyer MK et al. Respir Res. 2010;11:112.
• Up to 25% more oxygen uptake with pole walking than walking without poles (Porcari et al., 1997; Morss et al., 2001; Jordan, 2001).

6. Rehabilitation

Studies on the use of Nordic pole walking in recovery and rehabilitation programs.

• Effects of walking poles on shoulder function in breast cancer survivors (Sprod LK, Drum SN, Bentz AT, Carter SD, Schneider CM. University of Northern Colorado, 2005).
• Effects of Nordic walking training on exercise capacity in early inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after acute coronary syndrome: a controlled trial. Kocur P, Deskur-Smielecka E, Wilk M, Dylewicz P. Clin Rehabil. 2009;23(11):995-1004.
• Nordic walking after disk prolapse. Bachfischer K, Modersohn-Meyer G, Niederhuber H, Schlüter J. MMW Fortschr Med. 2005;147(38).
• Effect of different walking aids on walking capacity of patients with post-stroke hemiparesis. Allet L, Leemann B, Guyen E, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;90(8).
• Sports activity after total hip resurfacing. Banerjee M, Bouillon B, Banerjee C, et al. Am J Sports Med. 2010;38(6):1229-36.
• Nordic walking — also suitable in rehabilitation. Heinz M. Sportverletz Sportschaden. 2003;17(2):55.

7. Pregnancy

Research on the safety and benefits of Nordic pole walking during pregnancy.

• Physical activity in pregnancy and the breast-feeding period in obese mothers. Korsten-Reck U. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol. 2010;214(3):95-102.

8. Nordic Pole Walking for Seniors

Studies focused on older adults and the age-specific benefits of pole walking.

• Nordic walking: a new form of physical activity in the elderly. Turk Z, Vidensek S, Micetic-Turk D. Acta Med Croatica. 2007;61 Suppl 1:33-6.
• Factors predicting dynamic balance and quality of life in home-dwelling elderly women. Karinkanta S, Heinonen A, Sievänen H, Uusi-Rasi K, Kannus P. Gerontology. 2005;51(2):116-21.
• Influence of Nordic pole walking on functions important to everyday life for the elderly (Parkatti et al., 2002).