Nordic Walking improves daily physical activities in COPD: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: In patients with COPD progressive dyspnoea leads to a sedentary lifestyle. To date, no studies exist investigating the effects of Nordic Walking in patients with COPD. Therefore, the aim was to determine the feasibility of Nordic Walking in COPD patients at different disease stages. Furthermore we aimed to determine the short-and long-term effects of Nordic Walking on COPD patients' daily physical activity pattern as well as on patients exercise capacity. Methods: Sixty COPD patients were randomised to either Nordic Walking or to a control group. Patients of the Nordic Walking group (n = 30; age: 62 ± 9 years; FEV 1 : 48 ± 19% predicted) underwent a three-month outdoor Nordic Walking exercise program consisting of one hour walking at 75% of their initial maximum heart rate three times per week, whereas controls had no exercise intervention. Primary endpoint: daily physical activities (measured by a validated tri-axial accelerometer); secondary endpoint: functional exercise capacity (measured by the six-minute walking distance; 6MWD). Assessment time points in both groups: baseline, after three, six and nine months. Results: After three month training period, in the Nordic Walking group time spent walking and standing as well as intensity of walking increased (Δ walking time: +14.9 ± 1.9 min/day; Δ standing time: +129 ± 26 min/day; Δ movement intensity: +0.40 ± 0.14 m/s

The application of cardiorespiratory training in the framework of the comprehensive programs for the medical rehabilitation of the patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Nordic Walking, фин. sauvakävely -ходьба с палками) -прогулки на свежем воздухе с парой модифицированных лыж-ных палок [23,24]; -ходьба на тредмиле; -в условиях санатория или специализирован-ных центров -терренкур; -велотренировки, в ряде случаев дополняемые тренировкой инспираторных мышц (ТИМ). По-следние могут в некоторой степени обеспечить до-полнительные преимущества, когда используются как часть полноценной программы ПР [25].…”

T’ai chi for individuals with COPD: an ancient wisdom for a 21st century disease?

“…Secondly, oxygen-dependent individuals were ineligible to participate in this study, and the conclusions should not be uncritically applied to this subset. Thirdly, other exercise modalities which require no exercise apparatus, like Nordic walking and ground walking, have also been shown to improve exercise performance in individuals with COPD [41,42]. Finally, interdisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation programmes can address specific issues, such as nutritional modulation, collaborative self-management to promote selfefficacy, advance care planning, and/or smoking cessation, which are not addressed during a course of t'ai chi.…”

Learn from the past and create the future: the 2013 ATS/ERS statement on pulmonary rehabilitation

“…However, there is a growing recognition that walking is relatively easy to prescribe, cheap, and a meaningful activity for individuals [10]. As a training modality in its own right, walking can be progressed to a more vigorous form, ''Nordic walking'' [11]. This appears to be acceptable to patients, provokes a meaningful response compared to a non-exercising control group and has the benefit, like all walking, that it can be continued beyond the period of supervised exercise [11].…”

“…As a training modality in its own right, walking can be progressed to a more vigorous form, ''Nordic walking'' [11]. This appears to be acceptable to patients, provokes a meaningful response compared to a non-exercising control group and has the benefit, like all walking, that it can be continued beyond the period of supervised exercise [11]. Intuitively, it would seem more likely that this type of pragmatic training would support behaviour change, although the impact pulmonary rehabilitation has upon physical activity has yet to be clearly and consistently defined [12,13].…”