Efficacy of Nordic walking in obesity management.

The effects of a Nordic walking (NW) program compared to those of a walking (W) program on physiological and perceptual variables in obese middle-aged women were investigated. Subjects (n=12 NW group, n=11 W group) trained over 12 weeks 3 times.week (-1). Body mass, body mass index (BMI), body fat, heart rate (HR), resting blood pressure, peak oxygen consumption (V˙O (2peak)) were measured before and after the training period. Moreover, HR, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and adherence were recorded during all training sessions. After the training period body mass, body fat and diastolic blood pressure decreased in both groups (P<0.05) whereas V˙O (2peak) increased in the NW group (+3.7 ml.min (-1).kg (-1); P=0.005). During the training sessions, mean HR (P=0.021), HR at preferred walking speed (P=0.020) and % of time at high intensity (P=0.031) were higher in NW than in the W group. Finally, RPE was not influenced by the modality of exercise and NW group showed a higher rate of adherence (91±19% vs. 81±29%; P=0.011). To conclude, NW activity in obese women allows an increase in exercise intensity and adherence to a training program without increasing the perception of effort leading to enhanced aerobic capacity.

[1]  W. E. Langbein,et al.  Increasing exercise tolerance of persons limited by claudication pain using polestriding. , 2002, Journal of vascular surgery.

[2]  K. Flegal,et al.  Assessing obesity: classification and epidemiology. , 1997, British medical bulletin.

[3]  P. Dylewicz,et al.  Effects of Nordic Walking training on exercise capacity and fitness in men participating in early, short-term inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome — a controlled trial , 2009, Clinical rehabilitation.

[4]  W. Hagner,et al.  Changes in level of V˙O2max, blood lipids, and waist circumference in the response to moderate endurance training as a function of ovarian aging , 2009, Menopause.

[5]  Godfrey L. Smith,et al.  Both aerobic endurance and strength training programmes improve cardiovascular health in obese adults. , 2008, Clinical science.

[6]  B. Dugué,et al.  Interval training program on a wheelchair ergometer for paraplegic subjects , 2001, Spinal Cord.

[7]  E. Beller,et al.  Alterations of Left Ventricular Myocardial Characteristics Associated With Obesity , 2004, Circulation.

[8]  G Atkinson,et al.  International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research , 2009, International journal of sports medicine.

[9]  J. Donnelly,et al.  Adherence and Attrition With Intermittent and Continuous Exercise in Overweight Women , 2003, International journal of sports medicine.

[10]  H. Wyatt,et al.  HIGHLIGHTED TOPIC Role of Exercise in Reducing the Risk of Diabetes and Obesity Role of physical activity in preventing and treating obesity , 2005 .

[11]  F. Schena,et al.  Physiological and perceptual responses to Nordic walking in obese middle-aged women in comparison with the normal walk , 2010, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[12]  R. Kram,et al.  Energetic cost and preferred speed of walking in obese vs. normal weight women. , 2005, Obesity research.

[13]  G. Borg.  Perceived exertion as an indicator of somatic stress. , 2019, Scandinavian journal of rehabilitation medicine.

[14]  B H Jacobson,et al.  Load carriage energy expenditure with and without hiking poles during inclined walking. , 2000, International journal of sports medicine.

[15]  J. Coquart,et al.  Intermittent versus continuous exercise: effects of perceptually lower exercise in obese women. , 2008, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[16]  R R Wing,et al.  Physical activity in the treatment of the adulthood overweight and obesity: current evidence and research issues. , 1999, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[17]  P. Ekkekakis,et al.  Exercise does not feel the same when you are overweight: the impact of self-selected and imposed intensity on affect and exertion , 2006, International Journal of Obesity.

[18]  S. Blair,et al.  Effects of different doses of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness among sedentary, overweight or obese postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure: a randomized controlled trial. , 2007, JAMA.

[19]  M. T. Fanelli,et al.  Ultrasonic assessment of body composition in obese adults: overcoming the limitations of the skinfold caliper. , 1987, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[20]  W L Beaver,et al.  Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise. , 1973, Journal of applied physiology.

[21]  J. Porcari,et al.  The physiological responses to walking with and without Power Poles on treadmill exercise. , 1997, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[22]  A. Knicker,et al.  Energy cost and pole forces during Nordic walking under different surface conditions. , 2009, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[23]  C. Corbin,et al.  How Much Physical Activity is Enough , 1996 .

[24]  V. Ricca,et al.  Adherence to structured physical exercise in overweight and obese subjects: A review of psychological models , 2003, Eating and weight disorders : EWD.

[25]  C. Summerbell,et al.  Meta-analysis: effect of exercise, with or without dieting, on the body composition of overweight subjects. , 1995, European journal of clinical nutrition.

[26]  R. Ross,et al.  Physical activity, total and regional obesity: dose-response considerations. , 2001, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[27]  K. Brownell.  Exercise and obesity treatment: psychological aspects. , 1995, International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[28]  B. Whipp,et al.  A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange. , 1986, Journal of applied physiology.

[29]  M. Perri,et al.  Effects of group- versus home-based exercise in the treatment of obesity. , 1997, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[30]  D. Reda,et al.  Cardiovascular Training Effect Associated With Polestriding Exercise in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease , 2005, The Journal of cardiovascular nursing.

[31]  S. Blair,et al.  Estimated change in physical activity level (PAL) and prediction of 5-year weight change in men: the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study , 2004, International Journal of Obesity.

[32]  J. Vanheest,et al.  Energy expenditure during submaximal walking with Exerstriders. , 1995, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[33]  R. Laukkanen,et al.  Self‐guided brisk walking training with or without poles: a randomized‐controlled trial in middle‐aged women , 2006, Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports.

[34]  T. Byers,et al.  Recreational physical activity and ten-year weight change in a US national cohort. , 1993, International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[35]  B H Jacobson,et al.  Comparison of Hiking Stick Use on Lateral Stability While Balancing with and without a Load , 1997, Perceptual and motor skills.

[36]  A. Bauman,et al.  Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. , 2007, Circulation.

[37]  T. Church,et al.  Field Testing of Physiological Responses Associated with Nordic Walking , 2002, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[38]  Tryon Ww,et al.  Activity decreases as percentage overweight increases. , 1992 .

[39]  D. Jacobs,et al.  Physical activity and body weight: associations over ten years in the CARDIA study. Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults. , 2000, International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[40]  S. Grant,et al.  The effects of a 12-week group exercise programme on physiological and psychological variables and function in overweight women. , 2004, Public health.

[41]  G. Caldwell,et al.  Muscular and metabolic costs of uphill backpacking: are hiking poles beneficial? , 2000, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[42]  K. Fox,et al.  Motivation for physical activity and weight management. , 1998, International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders : journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

[43]  Manuel Gimenez,et al.  Square-Wave Endurance Exercise Test (SWEET) for training and assessment in trained and untrained subjects , 1982, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[44]  J. Durnin,et al.  Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 Years , 1974, British Journal of Nutrition.

[45]  I. Vuori,et al.  Association between leisure time physical activity and 10-year body mass change among working-aged men and women , 1997, International Journal of Obesity.

[46]  K. Wasserman,et al.  DETECTING THE THRESHOLD OF ANAEROBIC METABOLISM IN CARDIAC PATIENTS DURING EXERCISE. , 1964, The American journal of cardiology.

[47]  Gregory P. Samsa,et al.  Effects of the Amount of Exercise on Body Weight, Body Composition, and Measures of Central Obesity STRRIDE—A Randomized Controlled Study , 2004 .

[48]  I. Bautista-Castaño,et al.  Variables predictive of adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations in the treatment of obesity and overweight, in a group of Spanish subjects , 2004, International Journal of Obesity.