WELCOME TO NORDIC WALKING TAYSIDE
Nordic walking Tayside is a website designed to introduce you to Nordic Walking....it may be of interest to anyone but will be particularly relevant if you live in the Tayside area of Scotland.
Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing sports in Europe...thousands of people are picking up their poles daily and experiencing the benefits Nordic walking can bring to them.
The Benefits of Nordic Walking
Walking at a moderate speed may not be enough to increase the heart rate in individuals at an above-average fitness level. They may have problems with lower extremity joints, especially knees, not uncommon in veteran runners and joggers, that has forced them to abandon their preferred form of exercise. It is here where Nordic Walking comes into the picture, and may help them in exercising for fitness, achieving the same heart rate levels as they would running or jogging. For individuals needing exercise for fitness and disease prevention, or for a medical condition such as those mentioned above, and for those with lower extremity problems, problems with balance, or fear of falling, Nordic walking could be a means of exercising.
Nordic walking is a relatively new form of exercise that has its origin in Nordic cross-country skiing. In Nordic Walking, poles resembling ski poles are used to involve the upper extremities in the walking exercise. The poles are equipped with wrist straps and rubber caps over the metal tips making it possible to use them on pavement while reducing the impact of the hard surface.
Nordic walking has been used for summer training in competitive Nordic skiing to maintain and improve upper extremity strength and endurance as well as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). It has been used in the United States at the University of Wisconsin in the rehabilitation of patients after myocardial infarction (MI). In the MI study, the oxygen uptake increased on average 21% compared to walking without poles. In a recent study at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas, preliminary results showed an increase in the oxygen uptake (up to 46% in some individuals). The caloric expenditure increased accordingly.
In addition to the increased energy cost that can have a training effect improving cardiovascular capacity, a recent study found beneficial effects in terms of neck and shoulder pain that are so common in our computerized society. Another study found that using hiking poles in simulation of uphill backpacking resulted in some reduction of the load on knees.
In summary, Nordic walking is an exercise form with many advantages, both for the healthy individual needing a more vigorous exercise form, especially for cardiovascular benefits, and for an individual with restrictions from a medical condition that precludes jogging or running. It can also be advantageous for those with medical conditions of arthritic or neurological origin that make normal walking without support difficult.
WHO IS IT FOR ?
Nordic walking is for anyone....whether you are returning to fitness after a long lay off...or an athlete looking to diversify into cross training...no matter what level of fitness your starting point...Nordic Walking can benefit you. So if you are simply looking to add health benefits to your daily walk or wish to pursue a more vigorous fitness campaign...Nordic Walking can help you achieve this.
And when I say anyone...I mean anyone !
