Nordic walking and regular walking
A comparison of
Nordic walking and fast walking yielded some insights about the difference
between the two activities. Nordic walking involves the upper body through use
of specially designed walking poles to push off. Fast walking doesn't involve
the upper body except for stability and arm swing.
Nordic walking
improved heart and respiratory rates (heart beats per minute and breaths per
minute), leading the researchers to conclude "Nordic Walking might be the
preferred form of aerobic exercise over regular fast walking."
This came from the
increased intensity generated by involving the upper body in the effort.
(In
"Physiological effects of Nordic walking versus regular fast walking on
healthy adults: A pilot study" by Henderson RJ; Abendroth N; Gronner K;
Laughlin M; Paquette K; York J in Physiotherapy
Canada, June 2009)
