Lower and Upper Extremity Loading in Nordic Walking in Comparison with Walking and Running

Abstract

Nordic walking (NW) was compared with walking (W) and running (R) with respect to upper and lower limb injury risks. 24 NW-instructors performed W, NW, and R trials on a runway covered with artificial turf at controlled speeds. Foot pronation and ground reaction forces were measured as well as shock wave transmission to the right wrist. Comparison of NW and W shows similar results for all of the four chosen velocities (5 km/h, 7 km/h, 8 km/h, 8.5 km/h). Except for the 2nd peak of the vertical ground reaction force, NW results in higher loading rates and horizontal forces as well as higher pronation and pronation velocity values as compared with W. Wrist acceleration values up to 7.6 times gravitational acceleration were recorded in NW. Compared with R at the same speeds (8 km/h and 8.5 km/h), NW can be recommended as low impact sport with 36% lower loading rates and 59% lower pronation velocities. However, the high wrist accelerations in NW reveal that the upper extremities are exposed to considerable repetitive shocks, which may cause overuse injuries of the upper extremities. Thus, additional preventive exercises for the upper limb muscles are recommended as well as using shock absorbing walking poles.

Impact of walking speed and slope of the ground on axial force of poles in Nordic walking

“…It is clear from this perspective that propulsion of upper extremities is actively engaged in forward motion. According to authors Hagen et al (2011), increased walking speed upon horizontal position of the ground leads to enhance of ground reaction forces of lower extremities in the phase of initial contact with the ground. This phenomenon can have a negative impact on the musculoskeletal system in the elderly, people suffering from obesity or individuals with orthopaedic problems in their lower extremities.…”

“…The study by Hagen et al (2011) compares the vectors of ground reaction forces caused by axial forces in the poles during the phase of support with a pole, with vectors of ground reaction forces of the lower extremities in the phase of heel strike. When the ground was in horizontal plane, these vectors did not correspond with each other in their direction and there is a slowing down effect of the lower extremity and at the same time there is an accelerating effect caused by applying of the pole, which results in higher load to the lower extremities during the phase of heel strike.…”

Development and validation of system for measuring poling forces during Nordic walking

“…So, PPF may not describe the effort of upper limbs but it could be used as a variable of shock loading of the upper limbs. Hagen, Hennig, and Stieldorf (2011) used accelerometry and showed that wrists are exposed to considerable shocks during NW. An increased injury risk to the upper limbs should be considered.…”

Identification of the forces developed by upper limbs in various forms of human physical activity and in manual techniques used by physiotherapists – a brief review

“…Na przykład Hartvigsen i wsp. [4] mierzyli aktywność fizyczną podczas chodu z kijkami w wykorzystaniem metody akcelerometrycznej stosując urządzenie Actigraph GT256, które umocowane wokół talii ćwiczącego rejestrowało pionowe ruchy środka masy ciała. Wykonaną pracę określono sumaryczną drogą środka masy ciała, a intensywność wysiłku wielkością amplitudy.…”

“…This complex, pro-health physical activity, used as a supplementary exercise by the Scandinavian ski runners already in the 1920s, is recognized as a sport for all. Complex benefits obtained by people in different age groups and at different levels of physical fitness resulting from taking up Nordic Walking regularly were broadly described in the literature [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Many authors [1,3] measured different variables characterizing physical exertion while walking with poles.…”