Introduction Nordic walking is being used increasingly as an exercise method in many clinical disorders. To apply Nordic walking in cases of fragile or deconditioned patients, monitoring of exercise intensity such as heart rate (HR) measurement is required. The accuracy of wearable HR monitors during Nordic walking has not yet been reported. Objective To compare the accuracy of an electrocardiography (ECG)–based HR monitor (Polar H7) and a photoplethysmography (PPG)–based HR monitor (Fitbit Charge 2) during conventional and Nordic walking. Design Accuracy was assessed by comparing the HR values obtained using the wearable devices with those obtained via 12‐lead ECG as a reference. Setting Laboratory setting. Participants Fifteen male volunteers age 23.7 ± 3.0 years. Interventions None. Main Outcomes Measures HR was simultaneously recorded via 12‐lead ECG, the Polar H7, and the Fitbit Charge 2 during conventional and Nordic walking. Agreement between the devices was assessed by calculating Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (rc), the mean absolute difference, and the limit of agreement (LoA) from Bland‐Altman plots. Results Regarding HR values including Nordic and conventional walking, there was a better agreement between the Polar H7 and the reference (rc = 0.96) than between the Fitbit Charge 2 and the reference (rc = 0.84). For the Polar H7, the mean absolute difference from the reference did not differ significantly between the walking methods; for the Fitbit Charge 2, the mean absolute difference was significantly higher during Nordic walking than during conventional walking (6.60 vs. 3.68 bpm, P < .001). The Fitbit Charge 2 had a wider LoA than did the Polar H7 during both walking methods. Conclusion ECG‐based wearable devices may be better than PPG‐based devices for monitoring HR during Nordic walking. However, both types of devices may adequately monitor HR during conventional walking.
Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the community-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) program that we had developed.Methods Individuals aged >40 years with cardiovascular disease or its risk factors who were residing in a rural area were recruited as study subjects. The CBCR program, which consisted of 10 education sessions and 20 weeks of customized exercises (twice a week), was conducted in a public health center for 22 weeks. Comprehensive outcomes including body weight, blood glucose level, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were measured at baseline, 11th week, and completion. Furthermore, the outcomes of young-old (65–74 years) and old-old (≥75 years) female subjects were compared.Results Of 31 subjects, 21 completed the program (completion rate, 67.7%). No adverse events were observed, and none of the subjects discontinued the exercise program because of chest pain, dyspnea, and increased blood pressure. Body weight and blood glucose level were significantly decreased, and 6MWD was significantly increased following program implementation (p<0.05). Both young-old and old-old women exhibited an improvement in blood glucose level and 6MWD test (p<0.05).Conclusion We reported the results of the first attempted CBCR in South Korea that was implemented without adverse events during the entire program. Improved aerobic exercise ability and reduced risk factors in all participants were observed. These improvements were also achieved by older adults aged ≥75 years.
Background Nordic walking (NW) requires more energy compared with conventional walking (W). However, the metabolic equation for NW has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize responses in oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and surface electromyography of the upper and lower limb muscles during NW and W and develop a metabolic equation for energy expenditure (E, mL·kg− 1·min− 1) of NW. Methods This study was performed in a randomized, controlled, crossover design to test the energy expenditure during NW and W. Fifteen healthy young men were enrolled (aged 23.7 ± 3.0 years). All participants performed two randomly ordered walking tests (NW and W) on a treadmill at a predetermined stepwise incremental walking speed (3–5 km·h− 1) and grade (0–7%). The oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and surface electromyography signals of the three upper limb muscles and three lower limb muscles in their right body were recorded and compared between NW and W using paired-t test. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to draw estimation of E during W and NW. Results Oxygen uptake (+ 15.8%), minute ventilation (+ 17.0%), heart rate (+ 8.4%), and systolic blood pressure (+ 7.7%) were higher in NW than in W (P < .05). NW resulted in increased muscle activity in all of the upper limb muscles (P < .05). In the lower limb, surface electromyography activities in two of the three lower limb muscles were increased in NW than in W only during level walking (P < .05). Energy expenditure during W and NW was estimated as follows: ENW = 6.1 + 0.09 × speed + 1.19 × speed × grade and EW = 4.4 + 0.09 × speed + 1.20 × speed × grade. Conclusion NW showed higher work intensity than W, with an oxygen consumption difference of 1.7 mL·kg− 1·min− 1. The coefficients were not different between the two walking methods. NW involved more muscles of the upper body than W.
Background: Nordic walking (NW) requires more energy compared with conventional walking (W). However, the metabolic equation for NW has not been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize responses in oxygen uptake (V̇O2), minute ventilation (V̇E), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the upper and lower limb muscles during NW and W and to develop a metabolic equation for energy expenditure (E) of NW.Methods: Fifty healthy young men constituted our sample (aged 23.7 ± 3.0 years). Two randomly assigned walking tests (NW and W) on a treadmill at a predetermined stepwise incremental walking speed (3–5 km·h-1) and grade (0%–7%). The V̇O2, V̇E, HR, and SBP were measured. The sEMG signals of the three upper limb muscles and three lower limb muscles in their right body were recorded. Linear regression analysis was used to draw estimation of EE during W and NW.Results: V̇O2 (+15.8%), V̇E (+17.0%), RR (+18.2%), HR (+8.4%), and SBP (+7.7%) were higher in NW than in W. NW resulted in increased muscle activity in all of the upper limb muscles (P<.05). In the lower limb, sEMG activities in two of the three lower limb muscles were increased in NW than in W only during level walking (P<.05). EE during W and NW was estimated as follows: EW = 4.4 + 0.09 × speed + 1.20 × speed × grade; ENW = 6.1 + 0.09 × speed + 1.19 × speed × grade.Conclusion: NW showed higher work intensity than W, with an oxygen consumption difference of 1.7 mL·kg-1·min-1. The coefficients were not different between the two walking methods. NW involved more muscles of the upper body than W.
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