The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters
Nordic walking (NW) is a popular physical activity used to manage chronic diseases and maintain overall health and fitness status. This study aimed to compare NW to ordinary walking (W) with regard to pole length and to identify kinematic differences associated with different poles’ length (55%, 65%...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/2/50 |
| _version_ | 1827736938118905856 |
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| author | Luca Russo Guido Belli Andrea Di Blasio Elena Lupu Alin Larion Francesco Fischetti Eleonora Montagnani Pierfrancesco Di Biase Arrivabene Marco De Angelis |
| author_facet | Luca Russo Guido Belli Andrea Di Blasio Elena Lupu Alin Larion Francesco Fischetti Eleonora Montagnani Pierfrancesco Di Biase Arrivabene Marco De Angelis |
| author_sort | Luca Russo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nordic walking (NW) is a popular physical activity used to manage chronic diseases and maintain overall health and fitness status. This study aimed to compare NW to ordinary walking (W) with regard to pole length and to identify kinematic differences associated with different poles’ length (55%, 65% and 75% of the subject’s height, respectively). Twelve male volunteers (21.1 ± 0.7 years; 1.74 ± 0.05 m; 68.9 ± 6.1 kg) were tested in four conditions (W, NW55, NW65 and NW75) at three different speeds (4-5-6 km∗h<sup>−1</sup>). Each subject performed a total of twelve tests in a random order. Three-dimensional kinematics of upper and lower body were measured for both W and NW, while oxygen consumption levels (VO<sub>2</sub>) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured only for NW trials with different poles’ length. NW showed a higher step length, lower elbow motion and higher trunk motion (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to W. Additionally, NW65 did not show any kinematic or RPE differences compared to NW55 and NW75. Only NW75 showed a higher elbow joint (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and lower pole (<i>p</i> < 0.05) range of motion compared to NW55 and a higher VO<sub>2</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to NW55 and NW65 at 6 km∗h<sup>−1</sup>. In conclusion, the use of the poles affects the motion of the upper and lower body during gait. Poles with shorter or longer length do not produce particular changes in NW kinematics. However, increasing the length of the pole can be a smart variation in NW to increase exercise metabolic demand without significantly affecting the kinematics and the RPE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:17:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-219d661d1d3c46cd91b5e7f732582c85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:17:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-219d661d1d3c46cd91b5e7f732582c852023-11-18T11:03:47ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422023-04-01825010.3390/jfmk8020050The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic ParametersLuca Russo0Guido Belli1Andrea Di Blasio2Elena Lupu3Alin Larion4Francesco Fischetti5Eleonora Montagnani6Pierfrancesco Di Biase Arrivabene7Marco De Angelis8Department of Human Sciences, Università Telematica degli Studi IUL, 50122 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Sciences for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Aging Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDepartment of Motor Activities, Petroleum Gas University Ploiesti, 100600 Ploiesti, RomaniaFaculty of Physical Education and Sport, Ovidius University of Constanta, 900029 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Sports and Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton BN2 4AT, UKDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyNordic walking (NW) is a popular physical activity used to manage chronic diseases and maintain overall health and fitness status. This study aimed to compare NW to ordinary walking (W) with regard to pole length and to identify kinematic differences associated with different poles’ length (55%, 65% and 75% of the subject’s height, respectively). Twelve male volunteers (21.1 ± 0.7 years; 1.74 ± 0.05 m; 68.9 ± 6.1 kg) were tested in four conditions (W, NW55, NW65 and NW75) at three different speeds (4-5-6 km∗h<sup>−1</sup>). Each subject performed a total of twelve tests in a random order. Three-dimensional kinematics of upper and lower body were measured for both W and NW, while oxygen consumption levels (VO<sub>2</sub>) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured only for NW trials with different poles’ length. NW showed a higher step length, lower elbow motion and higher trunk motion (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to W. Additionally, NW65 did not show any kinematic or RPE differences compared to NW55 and NW75. Only NW75 showed a higher elbow joint (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and lower pole (<i>p</i> < 0.05) range of motion compared to NW55 and a higher VO<sub>2</sub> (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to NW55 and NW65 at 6 km∗h<sup>−1</sup>. In conclusion, the use of the poles affects the motion of the upper and lower body during gait. Poles with shorter or longer length do not produce particular changes in NW kinematics. However, increasing the length of the pole can be a smart variation in NW to increase exercise metabolic demand without significantly affecting the kinematics and the RPE.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/2/50Nordic walkingwalking3D kinematicsbiomechanicsgait analysis |
| spellingShingle | Luca Russo Guido Belli Andrea Di Blasio Elena Lupu Alin Larion Francesco Fischetti Eleonora Montagnani Pierfrancesco Di Biase Arrivabene Marco De Angelis The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology Nordic walking walking 3D kinematics biomechanics gait analysis |
| title | The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters |
| title_full | The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters |
| title_short | The Impact of Nordic Walking Pole Length on Gait Kinematic Parameters |
| title_sort | impact of nordic walking pole length on gait kinematic parameters |
| topic | Nordic walking walking 3D kinematics biomechanics gait analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/8/2/50 |
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