Researchers and Experts talk about Pole/Nordic Walking

Studies in the New England Journal of Medicine and the journal Chest show that there are significant cardiovascular benefits from brisk walking. It will lower you risk of heart disease as much as vigorous exercise.

"Your upper body contains about 50 percent of your muscle mass," explains study researcher Lawrence R. Terry, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin in La Crosse. "Regular walking doesn't engage those muscles. Pole walking does, so you use more energy." That means if you normally burn 400 calories walking, you can boost your burn to almost 500 calories by using a pair of poles--without walking faster!

A study with walkers was published in the American College of Sports Medicine journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. The study conducted at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst showed that using poles lets walkers lengthen their strides, put less strain on their knees, and generally feel more comfortable. The walkers studied did not expend less energy, but the increase in stability made long treks easier.

Another study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that just 2 ½ hours of brisk walking per week reduces your risk of heart attack and strokes by almost 33%.

The Cooper Institute of Dallas, Texas assessed the Pole Walking method for fitness. They found an increase in calories burned and oxygen used by 20% compared with regular walking at the same pace. The study was published in early 2001. What they found was that on average there was a 20% increase in caloric expenditure and in oxygen consumption in a study group when using the poles. Additionally there was a 6% increase in heart rate when using the poles.

In a study conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention results showed how a person with Diabetes who walked just two hours per week reduced their risk from a heart attack and other maladies by 39%.

The New England Journal of Medicine researchers suggested that walking is the exercise most likely to prevent cancer, especially colon and prostrate. The same study suggested claimed that older women who walked briskly for one to two hours weekly lowered their risk of breast cancer by 20 %, even if they had hormone replacement therapy.

According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine for every 10 blocks walked each day women were able to lower their odds of cognitive decline by 13%.

The Finnish Helsinki Polytechnic's Faculty of Health Care studied the impact of regular participation in Nordic Walking in spring 1999. They studied women working mainly with PCs and their symptoms in the neck and shoulder area and the mobility of the cervical and pectoral spine. The study showed that the symptoms in the neck and shoulder are disappeared among more than half of the participants and that the mobility of the cervical and pectoral spine improved significantly. Among older persons the use of poles is a factor of safety as they may prevent falling at the time improving mobility.

According to a poll conducted by Gallup Finland Ltd. Published on 22 November 2000 the number of persons participating regularly in Nordic Walking has increased by some 200, 000 persons during the last year in Finland. As many as 480,000 Finns now walk regularly with the poles. Some 30% of Finns (1,200,000) tried Nordic Walking at least once during the last year. In addition to Finland Nordic Walking is coming increasingly popular in Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

In an article published on Prevention.com it was stated that if you have painful knees or achy hips, walking poles may make exercise less painful. Poles can ease the impact on joints by transferring force from your legs to the poles, explains Michael R. Torry, PhD, director of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory at Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation in Vail, CO.

According to fitness expert, Dr Garry Egger, the Scandinavians have come up with a simple solution to the problem for those people who wanted a good form of exercise but suffered from knee or back problems. They have adapted the poles they use for cross-country skiing in winter for use as walking poles in summer. The poles provide support for the back and knees, and help the walker to exercise more efficiently.