Development of a New Nordic Walking Equipment and a New Sporting Technique

Abstract

As a consequence of our intensive Nordic Walking research from the last three years, it was found out that the use of special shoes is essential. The pole length, pole construction and the construction of the handle have a biomechanical influence. Furthermore there should be a difference in Nordic Walking techniques.

There is one fundamental technique from Finland, which is more or less a sporting one. But in Austria Nordic Walking is a health-movement and so we have developed, with the knowledge of the physio-therapeutics, a new, matching technique, which also requires new equipment (handle, strap…).

Our last research covered the influence of Nordic Walking on the prevention of muscular tensions in the upper range of the back (M. Trapezius…). The subjects had an office job and had to work almost all day long in a sitting position in front of a computer. The subject’s muscular activity was measured with EMG before and after a training cycle, in which they went Nordic Walking with the finish technique. The results have shown that the subjects trained muscles which are parts of the flexorloop. The muscular tensions became lower but they did not disappear. So a new Nordic Walking technique was developed. Thsi new technique trains the muscles of the extensorloop, which is not possible with conventional Nordic Walking equipment, in particular with the conventional handle and strap. Therefore we developed a new “strap system”. This “strap system” does not only differ from the conventional handles and straps in form and look, there is also a difference in the transmission of force and the performance of the technique.

With that new “strap system” and the new technique it is possible to train the muscles of the extensorloop effectively, which results in a prevention of muscular tensions in the upper range of the back and a prevention of muscular dysbalances.