Nordic walking, a sport for everyone

More and more often we also see people in the city who instead of doing the classic jogging or jogging, walk with the support of sticks similar to those for skis. It is Nordic walking or Nordic walking, a new sport that comes directly from Finland and which is involving an increasing number of sportsmen, subtracting enthusiasts from running.

But what is Nordic walking specifically? It is simply a walking technique that inserts the use of poles within the natural movement, taking inspiration from the classic cross-country skiing technique. It can be practiced anywhere, in parks, in the mountains, on the shore of the beach, in the paths of the woods and so on. A great way to play sports in contact with nature.

The use of poles while walking implies a whole series of both physical and mental benefits that are decreeing the success of this sport.

The benefits of Nordic walking

Nordic walking stimulates the use of 85% of our muscles and consequently helps to consume about 40% more than a normal walk. And all this without loading on the joints such as the hip and knee, so much so that it is often recommended for those with joint problems, for those who have to recover from trauma or for overweight people. The benefits of Nordic walking are:

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• Greater effectiveness than traditional walking, thanks to the use of sticks that also allow you to train the upper body.
• Reduction of the load on the joints such as ankles, knee, hips and spine, which makes it particularly suitable for all those who have to recover from trauma or who suffer from joint pathologies.
• Improvement of circulation and performance of the heart and lungs, like all aerobic activities.
• Reduction of tension and contractures from the neck and shoulders.
• Training of the muscles of the whole body that gains in tone.
• Reduction of stress and emotional tensions thanks to physical movement and the possibility of practicing it outdoors.

In fact, Nordic walking implies in its very concept that of being a sport made for the total well-being of the body and mind and the discovery of territories and natural environments are fully part of the activity.

The Nordic walking technique

But let's get to the Nordic walking technique. The movement is composed of thrusts of the leg and opposite arms: in practice, the left leg and the right arm, the right leg and the left arm must be moved alternately.

The body posture must be erect but not contracted, like the natural one of the spine: one of the goals of Nordic walking is precisely to bring the technique back into everyday life, to gradually find the correct posture of natural walking without sticks, always using abdominals and back muscles as well. It is necessary to be slightly inclined forward but without flexing the torso, leaving the shoulders relaxed with a wide swing of the upper limbs.

The arms must be extended because they support the functional rotation of the shoulder axis with respect to the pelvis axis, allowing greater muscular effort. The hands perform straight forward and backward movements and the sticks always move close to the body.

The length of the stride is developed in relation to the possibility of the pelvis to rotate in conditions of equilibrium, in fact the strides are neither long nor short but are adequate for the extension of movement and thrust and the morphology of the terrain where the sport is practiced.

Poles do not change the way you walk but are a tool to help make walking more dynamic and healthy. You have to keep the sticks inclined and not vertical, you push the stick back beyond the pelvis until you have a good extension of the arm, in fact the sticks must function as an extension of the upper limbs.

The history of Nordic walking

But where does this healthy sport come from?

We have already seen that Finland is born, and originates from the summer training used by cross-country skiers. Given its many benefits and the possibility of practicing it anywhere and by people of all ages, Nordic walking then spread as a real fitness discipline, involving more and more people up to the USA and throughout Europe.

And to start with Nordic walking?

Nordic walking is now highly widespread also in Italy and it is not difficult to find reference schools and sports associations in all the major Italian cities. Some advice:

• Nordic walking in Milan: www.milanonordwalk.it
  
• Nordic walking in Rome: www.nordicwalkingroma.it
• Nordic walking Naples: www.nordicwalkingpietrelcina.it