Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Nordic Walking May Be The Most Effective Workout For Heart Health, Study Says

Merrell Readman
Author:
July 18, 2024
Merrell Readman
mbg Associate Food & Health Editor
By Merrell Readman
mbg Associate Food & Health Editor
Merrell Readman is the Associate Food & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. Readman is a Fordham University graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in film and television. She has covered beauty, health, and well-being throughout her editorial career.
Image by rawpixel / iStock
July 18, 2024

With every passing season, a new workout trend seems to emerge. From spinning to HIIT, boot camps to Pilates, there's always a new form of exercise that seems to be more effective than the last.

Studies have recently revealed that Nordic walking may be the best exercise for cardiovascular strength and better heart health compared to other workouts.

Here's what the research says.

What is Nordic walking?

Nordic walking is a low-impact cardiovascular workout that uses specially designed poles to help propel you along your walk and support your body as you traverse hills and uneven terrain. Just like all walks, this form of exercise suits varying levels of intensity, which will naturally alter the health benefits on your body.

But although it's generally considered a low-impact workout, a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology has shown that it is more effective in bolstering cardiovascular health than HIIT (which previously held the crown).

Study method

This 130-person study was conducted over the course of 26 weeks, comparing the impact of HIIT, Nordic walking, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity continuous training to see which was the most beneficial for patients with coronary artery disease.

Functional capacity of the participants was measured with a walk test at the baseline, six weeks, and 12 weeks to see how their respective exercise affected their health and quality of life, and at the end of the study, it was Nordic walking participants who most significantly improved in both quality of life and the distance covered in their walking test.

Functional capacity, to clarify, is the participant's ability to complete general life activities, so pinpointing a form of exercise that supports this will naturally bolster quality of life and well-being as well.

More specifically, participants who engaged in Nordic walking experienced a 19% improvement in functional capacity, while HIIT garnered a 13% improvement, and moderate to vigorous continuous training showed a 12% increase.

Bottom line: Exercise is good for your health—a shock, we know.

Limitations

Nordic walking may pose as a great form of cardiovascular exercise, but the results as they relate to the speed and distance of the walking test may be due to the nature of the exercise itself.

The poles are intended to help improve your speed, so when practiced over an extended period of time (or the length of this study), it would stand to reason that this group of participants showed the most success in that area.

The takeaway

If you don't have a pair of poles readily available to take up Nordic walking, don't stress—walking without them is still a healthy option.

However, if you do want to improve your cardiovascular well-being and overall quality of life, it may be worth looking into the investment to replace your next HIIT session or hot girl walk.

As with all exercise, the intensity with which you push yourself will directly correlate to your results, and Nordic walking is no different.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Movement
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.