Nordic walking and regular walking

  • Participants: 11 women, 11 men. Late 20s to early 30s.
  • Distance: 1,600 meters on 200-meter track.

Results:
Dimension
Women
Men
Oxygen consumption
Greater than regular walking
Greater than regular walking
Caloric expenditure
Greater than regular walking
Greater than regular walking
Heart rate
Greater than regular walking
Greater than regular walking

There's why the results are interesting:
  • The age of the participants indicates Nordic walking is worthwhile for younger people. The stereotype is that Nordic walking is only for senior citizens and people with chronic illnesses.
  • The greater oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure comes from involving muscles in the upper body.
  • The greater  heart rate means a stronger heart and the ability to get to a fat burning zone.

Most interesting is another observation in the study that the improvements came "without significantly increasing perceived exertion."

Give Nordic walking a try.

#NordicWalkingGuy