Nordic Walking does not reduce the loading of the knee joint
31 Mar 2025
The use of Nordic Walking (NW) as a rehabilitationmodality has increased considerably. NW (walking withpoles) is advocated as a healthy physical activity thatreduces the load on the knees. Few studies using thetechniques of NW exist, and the findings are contradictory.The aim of this study was to investigate whether NWreduces the loadings upon the knee joint compared withwalking without poles (NP). Seven experienced female NWinstructors volunteered. Three-dimensional gait analyseswere performed. Internal flexor and extensor joint momentswere calculated using an inverse dynamics approach and theknee joint compressive forces were calculated. No differ-ences in compression or shear forces between NW and NPwere found. The peak knee flexion angles were larger duringNW (32.56.01) compared with NP (28.24.21).The hip range of motion (ROM) was significantly increasedduring NW (64.410.21) compared with NP (57.89.71);no differences in the knee and ankle joint ROM wereobserved. The changes in the joint angles were not followedby changes in the joint dynamics. The present study does notsupport the statement that NW reduces the load on theknees.
You may be interested in them
21 Oct 2025
Effect of Nordic Walking on Walking Ability in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
21 Oct 2025
Effects of Nordic Walking on Physical Fitness in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review
21 Oct 2025
Nordic Walking Groups for People with Parkinson’s Disease in Community Rehabilitation Settings
World Original Nordic Walking Federation
Administration office:
JĘDRZYCHOWSKA 20D
65-385 ZIELONA GÓRA, POLAND
office@onwf.org
© 2024 onwf.org | Original Nordic Walking from Finland