Description
Nordic walking is defined as fitness walking with specially designed poles. It evolved from an off-season ski-training activity known as ski walking, hill bounding or ski striding to become a way of exercising year-round. Nordic walking can be done year round in any climate and anywhere one might otherwise walk without poles. It combines simplicity and accessibility of walking with simultaneous core and upper body conditioning similar to Nordic skiing.
The result is a full-body walking workout that can burn significantly more calories without a change in perceived exertion or having to walk faster, due to the incorporation of many large core, and other upper-body muscles which comprise more than 90% of the body’s total muscle mass and do work against resistance with each stride. ‘Normal walking’ utilizes only 70% of muscle mass with full impact on the joints of the legs and feet. Nordic Walking produces up to a 46% increase in energy consumption compared to walking without poles.