Nordic Walking for Health
Learn about the health
benefits of Nordic Walking
Develop ideas on how it could
benefit communities and your
target populations
Dr Catherine Hughes, Director of British Nordic
Walking CIC, a pharmaceuticals scientist now
prescribing Exercise as a Medicine
Kelly Brindley, Forestry Commission community
ranger Nordic Walking classes reclaimed colliery sites
Jane Booker, Physiotherapist and Nordic Walking
instructor
Public Health Policy
Health & Social Care Act (2012)
• Public Health located in Local Authorities from April
2013, working to inform & influence strategic policy &
commissioning focussing on Health Improvement with
individuals, communities & populations
• Fair Society, Healthy Lives The Marmot Review (2010)
• Localism: devolved responsibility & influence
responding to local needs
• Community Development : Social Capital & Asset
Building Approach
NORDIC WALKING INITIATIVES ARE WELL PLACED WITHIN
THESE POLICIES
Exercise is Medicine
Thanks again for the great introduction you
gave me to Nordic Walking during my visit to
London this past September to talk on
Exercise Is Medicine. I loved it and think it is a
great form of exercise that I have been
encouraging my patients to try.
All the best!
Bob Sallis MD
….then Nordic Walking is a breath of fresh air
Side effects: a big smile from increased levels of
serotonin and some vitamin D
What is Nordic Walking?


Why is it better than walking?
It’s new, something special, gives walk sense of purpose
Burns up to 40% more calories
Lift &
opens
chest
Strengthen
wrists
Uses 90% muscles
Spinal rotation
Keeps
hands
occupied
Gentler on joints
Lower perceived effort
Heart
rate
higher
Activates
core muscles
Get rid of frustration

Origins of Nordic Walking?
Summer training with poles since 1930s
Nordic Walking
10 Step methodology used by
INWA instructors in 40+ countries
Research Evidence
Health benefits of nordic walking: a systematic review.
Am J Prev Med. 2013 Jan;44(1):76-84. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2012.09.043.
Tschentscher M, Niederseer D, Niebauer J.
SOURCE
University Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation, Paracelsus Medical
University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Modern lifestyle, with its lack of everyday physical activity and exercise training,
predisposes people to chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and
coronary artery diseases. Brisk walking as a simple and safe form of exercise is undisputedly
an effective measure to counteract sedentary lifestyle risks even in the most unfit and could
lead to a reduction of the prevalence of chronic diseases in all populations. The purpose of
this review is to systematically summarize, analyze, and interpret the health benefits of
Nordic walking (walking with poles), and to compare it to brisk walking and jogging.
Copyright © 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All
rights reserved.
Research Evidence (2)
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic and comprehensive literature search was
performed between November 2010 and May 2012. Data were analyzed between April
2011 and May 2012.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1062 patients and 11 observational
studies with 831 patients were identified. The current analysis revealed that with regard
to short- and long-term effects on heart rate, oxygen consumption, quality of life, and
other measures, Nordic walking is superior to brisk walking without poles and in some
endpoints to jogging.
CONCLUSIONS: Nordic walking exerts beneficial effects on resting heart rate, blood
pressure, exercise capacity, maximal oxygen consumption, and quality of life in
patients with various diseases and can thus be recommended to a wide range of
people as primary and secondary prevention.
Research Evidence
Top PH issues & lifestyle conditions
•
•
•
COPD
Obesity
Diabetes
Musculo-skeletal Conditions
•
•
•
•
•
Fibromyalgia
Neck and shoulder pain
Lower back pain
Loading on knee joints
Hip resurfacing
Mental health & well-being
•
•
•
•
•
Depression Functional ability elderly
Bipolar
Pre/Postnatal
Peri-menopausal women
Workplace health
Other Conditions
•
•
•
•
•
Parkinson's
Cardiac rehabilitation
Intermittent claudication
Breast cancer rehabilitation
Cancer patients (HRV, QoL)
Who goes Nordic Walking?
Who goes Nordic Walking?
Projects in the UK
Organisation
Subject
Age Cymru
Increasing physical activity for people 50+ in Wales
County Durham NHS Trust
Increase physical activity in deprived area
Falkirk Community Trust
Increase activity in the local community
Newcastle PCT
Obesity tier 2
Forestry Commission
Community Outreach in new woodlands
St Georges NHS Trust
Falls prevention and Osteoporosis
Rosliston Forestry Centre
Increase numbers of people walking for health
Open Door Project
Living with severe mental health problems
South Derbyshire PCT
Obesity tier 3
Private physiotherapists
Musculoskeletal, cancer rehabilitation…
Let’s go Nordic Walking
British Nordic Walking
www.britishnordicwalking.org.uk
0845 301 1347
British Nordic Walking CIC
61-63 Eastgate
Cowbridge
CF71 7XX