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Nordic walking - more energy output for same perceived level of exertion |
 GP Jim Mayze steps out on the beach with his Nordic walking poles, a new walking accessory designed by the Finnish. He says they give the cardiovascular system a greater workout than walking without the poles with the added benefit that the walker hardly notices, as well as being great for additional balance.
Getting our patients moving is a huge challenge. It is amazing the reasons people put up for not being more active: the weather, lack of time, sore knees or back or other physical disability, fear of savage dogs or magpies, fear of assault or just lack of motivation. The rewards for getting someone who is sedentary exercising regularly at a moderate pace are very significant from a health perspective.
The Finns have come up with a new and simple way of increasing our level of activity that is just as innovative as their more sedentary mobile phone technology and computer software. It is called Nordic walking. This is walking using a pole in each hand that resembles cross country skiing and works the upper body muscles. There is a special walking technique that is easy to learn. See .
The main feature of this activity is the increased heart rate without increasing the perceived level of exertion. The Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, found that walking with poles boosted energy burning and oxygen consumption by an average of 20% compared with walking without poles at the same speed. So you get a much better workout without feeling you are working any harder.
Ten percent of Finns are using these poles and the trend is growing in popularity, not just there, but throughout Europe and the US. Having just returned from Finland I was impressed at just who was participating. All ages, shapes and sizes, and many quite elderly people, some of whom had significant disability. Having a pole in each hand may make people feel more secure and certainly improves balance.
For those of us with crouched over desk jobs there is no better way to relieve stiffness around the neck and shoulders than going for a Nordic walk - also a seemingly less strenuous way to burn up some fat!
Nordic walking poles are available in sports, camping and mountaineering shops.
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