Does technique make a difference

A study compared different Nordic walking techniques to assess how best to use Nordic walking poles to engage the upper body.

Styles compared:

• Walking
• Nordic walking (classical technique on which the vast majority of walkers are trained)
• Nordic walking with a weak poling action (classical technique but with weaker push-off)
• Nordic walking with straight-upper limbs moving the shoulders (arms extended, elbows locked)
• Nordic walking with elbow flexion-extension pattern and shoulders still (push-off only by flexing arms, not engaging shoulders)

I’ve tried these styles, and the intensity I felt corresponded to the research findings. One style not addressed was the power walking style where the elbows stay flexed.

Variations on the classical Nordic walking style created less muscle activation than the classic Nordic walking technique. However, all the Nordic walking techniques achieved greater muscle activation than regular walking, so doing something is better than just walking.