Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment
Background: Interest around Nordic Walking (NW) has increased in recent years. However, direct comparisons of NW with normal walking (W), particularly in ecologically valid environments is lacking. The aim of our study was to compare NW and W, over long distances in a natural mountain environment. M...
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doaj-df6e2d2634ab447292f4155e03fe88f52020-11-24T23:55:28ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012017-10-011410123510.3390/ijerph14101235ijerph14101235Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain EnvironmentAlessandro Grainer0Livio Zerbini1Carlo Reggiani2Giuseppe Marcolin3James Steele4Gaspare Pavei5Antonio Paoli6Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 3, 35131 Padova, ItalyCeRiSM, Sport Mountain Health Research Center, 38068 Rovereto, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 3, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 3, 35131 Padova, ItalyCentre for Health, Exercise and Sport Science, Southampton Solent University, Southampton SO14 0YN, UKDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 3, 35131 Padova, ItalyBackground: Interest around Nordic Walking (NW) has increased in recent years. However, direct comparisons of NW with normal walking (W), particularly in ecologically valid environments is lacking. The aim of our study was to compare NW and W, over long distances in a natural mountain environment. Methods: Twenty one subjects (13 male/8 female, aged 41 ± 12 years, body mass index BMI 24.1 ± 3.7), walked three distinct uphill paths (length 2.2/3.4/7 km) with (NW) or without (W) walking poles over two separate days. Heart rate (HR), energy expenditure (EE), step length (SL), walking speed (WS), total steps number (SN) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Results: HR (+18%) and EE (+20%) were higher in NW than in W whilst RPE was similar. SN (−12%) was lower and SL (+15%) longer in NW. WS was higher (1.64 vs. 1.53 m s−1) in NW. Conclusions: Our data confirm that, similarly to previous laboratory studies, differences in a range of walking variables are present between NW and W when performed in a natural environment. NW appears to increase EE compared to W, despite a similar RPE. Thus, NW could be a useful as aerobic training modality for weight control and cardiorespiratory fitness.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/10/1235pole walking locomotionenergy expenditureRPEnatural environmenttrekking |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Alessandro Grainer Livio Zerbini Carlo Reggiani Giuseppe Marcolin James Steele Gaspare Pavei Antonio Paoli |
spellingShingle |
Alessandro Grainer Livio Zerbini Carlo Reggiani Giuseppe Marcolin James Steele Gaspare Pavei Antonio Paoli Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health pole walking locomotion energy expenditure RPE natural environment trekking |
author_facet |
Alessandro Grainer Livio Zerbini Carlo Reggiani Giuseppe Marcolin James Steele Gaspare Pavei Antonio Paoli |
author_sort |
Alessandro Grainer |
title |
Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment |
title_short |
Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment |
title_full |
Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment |
title_fullStr |
Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physiological and Perceptual Responses to Nordic Walking in a Natural Mountain Environment |
title_sort |
physiological and perceptual responses to nordic walking in a natural mountain environment |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2017-10-01 |
description |
Background: Interest around Nordic Walking (NW) has increased in recent years. However, direct comparisons of NW with normal walking (W), particularly in ecologically valid environments is lacking. The aim of our study was to compare NW and W, over long distances in a natural mountain environment. Methods: Twenty one subjects (13 male/8 female, aged 41 ± 12 years, body mass index BMI 24.1 ± 3.7), walked three distinct uphill paths (length 2.2/3.4/7 km) with (NW) or without (W) walking poles over two separate days. Heart rate (HR), energy expenditure (EE), step length (SL), walking speed (WS), total steps number (SN) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored. Results: HR (+18%) and EE (+20%) were higher in NW than in W whilst RPE was similar. SN (−12%) was lower and SL (+15%) longer in NW. WS was higher (1.64 vs. 1.53 m s−1) in NW. Conclusions: Our data confirm that, similarly to previous laboratory studies, differences in a range of walking variables are present between NW and W when performed in a natural environment. NW appears to increase EE compared to W, despite a similar RPE. Thus, NW could be a useful as aerobic training modality for weight control and cardiorespiratory fitness. |
topic |
pole walking locomotion energy expenditure RPE natural environment trekking |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/10/1235 |
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