EFFECT OF WALKING SPEED AND POLE LENGTH ON KINEMATICS AND DYNAMICS IN NORDIC WALKING

Abstract

Nordic walking has become a wide established leisure sport in middle and northern Europe. Although cardiopulmonary benefits are well documented, reported load reductions on the lower extremities seem to be overestimated. The influence of Nordic walking speed on the gait parameters has not been researched sufficiently. The recommendations of the optimal length for Nordic walking poles vary and merely the effect of different lengths on the biomechanics of the technique has been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of Nordic walking speed and pole length on kinematic and dynamic parameters in 16 Nordic walking skilled subjects. An increase of walking speed causes a more dynamic walking pattern and leads to an increase of the ground reaction forces in the first part of the stance phase and a decrease in the middle part of the stance phase. Only fine and non-systematic changes in kinematics and ground reaction forces were observed when using poles with different pole lengths.