A Comparison of the Degree of Perceived Exertion by Participants In Nordic Walking and Level Walking at Equal Levels of Relative Exercise Intensity.
The modern health boom has caused Nordic walking (NW) to become increasingly
popular as a form of exercise in and around northern Europe. NW is a walking style that developed from summer time cross-country ski training and requires two ski poles.
Many studies have reported that a difference between NW and normal level walking (LW) is the energy expenditure involved.2-7; when NW and LW are conducted at a certain speed, oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) are higher in NW. The researchers conducting these studies concluded that the reason for this difference is that NW involves many muscles of the upper limbs. On the other hand, some researchers have reported that VO2 and HR increased in NW but perceived exertion did not. Figard-Fabre et al9 studied obese middle-aged women and found that perceived exertion was lower in NW than in LW at the same speed.
In future studies, by using subjects who are more accustomed to exercise at intensities of 40% to 60%, we may find greater differences between the two terms. We could confirm more than fourth level of OMNI scale on the upper limbs of the NW condition despite 40% VO2max in this study. Moreover, this is the new knowledge that there is the unique point which NW effects small muscles such as the upper limbs despite the low intensity.
Sport Exerc Med Open J. 2016; 2(1): 1-6. doi: 10.17140/SEMOJ-2-131
