One study yielded interesting results related to low
back pain
Some research is
being done about the relationship between Nordic walking and chronic low back
pain. One
study was neutral about whether there were positive effects. There was
significant pain reduction after warming up with Nordic walking poles but no
further pain reduction during the rest of the walk. The researcher theorized,
"With many participants rating pain near the lowest point on the scale at
the start of the walking course ratings may have been susceptible to a floor
effect with little room for further reductions of their pain." In other
words, pain reduction was so significant, there wasn't much more to do.
Background.
- Not as many sufferers walk for exercise as we would expect.
- Nordic walking increases heart rate, oxygen use, and caloric expenditure without increasing perceived exertion. In other words, Nordic walkers don't feel like they're working harder even though the numbers say so.
- Other studies suggested reduced lower back pain after 6 to 8 weeks of Nordic walking.
Method.
- 20 adults: 12 male, 8 female.
- None of the participants had Nordic walked before.
- Participants walked 1 mile after a warmup walk.
- Participants were randomly chosen to walk without poles or to Nordic walk. That would provide a comparison of walking methods.
Outcomes.
- Significant pain reduction from warmup with poles. Pain levels remained low during the rest of the walk.
- Confirmed other studies that perceived effort didn't change even though actual effort increased.
- Participants continued to walk slowly even though pain levels didn't increase.
