Nordic Walking Research

Many studies have been undertaken around the world, namely Finland and the USA, to prove that walking with poles increases endurance and burns more calories than walking normally. As well as being a great weight loss exercise, Nordic Walking improves fitness, strengthens every muscle in the body and improves mobility and blood circulation.

Research undertaken by the The Cooper Institute, Dallas, USA  found that oxygen consumption, energy and caloric expenditure were increased by 20% on average when men and women walked with poles compared to regular walking at the same pace.  “Field testing of physiological responses associated with Nordic Walking.” Church TS, Earnest CP, Morss GM (2002).

Today Nordic walking is one of the fastest growing sports in Europe with almost 8 million walkers around the world since it’s introduction in 1996.

Nordic Walking Benefits:

• Heart rate is 5-17 beats per minute higher (for example when walking normally, the heart rate is 130 beats/minute and in Nordic Walking it is 147 beats per minute ( i.e. an increase of 13%).

• When using Nordic walking poles, energy consumption increases by an average of 20% compared with walking without poles.

• There has been up to a 46% increase in energy consumption according to ‘Cooper Institute Research’, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sports (2002)

• Burns approximately 400 calories per hour (compared with 280 calories per hour for normal walking)