NORDIC WALKING

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NORDIC WALKING

• WCOS
• 10 November 2007

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CONTENTS

• Development of Nordic walking
• What is Nordic walking
• Benefits
• Basic principles of Nordic walking

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DEVELOPMENT OF NORDIC WALKING

• Since 1930s summer training method of
  cross-country skiers running, leaping, bounding,
  uphill training, swamp training..
• 1980s -1990s development for sport for all in
  Finland
• Inventors Suomen Latu, Finnish Sport Institute
  and Exel plc.
• 1997 Exel invents the name Nordic Walking for
  international use
• 1997 Exel introduces the first carbon fibre
  Nordic Walker pole in Finland, as a result of
  co-operation with the Finnish Institute of Sports
• 1997 International launch
• 2000 Establishment of the International Nordic
  Walking Association in Finland. The first member
  countries being Austria and Germany.

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POPULARITY OF NORDIC WALKING IN FINLAND
Number of Finns (61 female, 39 male)
participating in Nordic Walking at least once a
week
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NORDIC WALKING COUNTRIES

Finland Sweden Norway Denmark Poland Germany
Austria Switzerland Estonia New
Zealand Netherlands Belgium France Slovenia Slo
vakia Croatia Italy United Kingdom Taiwan Japan
Australia Spain Canada Iceland U.S.A.
Czech Republic Kuwait China Luxembourg Andorra
Fastest developing countries are presently
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Benelux,
Norway. Current population of active Nordic
Walkers is 3.5 to 4 million, and is increasing
rapidly.
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DEVELOPMENT OF NORDIC WALKERS WORLDWIDE
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WHAT IS NORDIC WALKING

• Walking with specially designed poles and using
  them with a unique technique (includes also
  running, jumping, leaping, exercising etc)
• Intensification of normal walking the use of
  poles,with correct technique, creates a complete
  body workout
• The global concept the movements, the technique,
  the teaching system all help to improve body
  awareness. Body control, posture, breathing and
  the way of moving in everyday life
• Nordic Walking improves quality of life

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BENEFITS

• Uses 95 of total body musculature
• Therefore increase in cardiovascular
  demand
• Uses 19 more energy on average than normal
  walking (up to 46 more)
• Takes pressure/wt-bearing off LEX joints but as
  walking is still wt-bearing ex
• Lower rate of perceived exertion

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Basic principles of Nordic Walking

• Natural, fluid, flowing, elegant movements
• Continuous alternation of activation and
  relaxation of the muscles involved this
  guarantees a good blood circulation and
  metabolism in the whole body and helps to relax
  tight muscles
• Cross coordination
• Nordic Walking is enhancement of regular walking
  it helps you to walk Better
• Correct body alignment, correct posture
• Suitable for all, irrespective of age, sex or
  physical condition
• Learned skills can be transferred to everyday
  life
• No competitions

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Good Technique
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Why should you teach Nordic Walking

• Good for you
• Good for your patients
• Gets you out in the fresh air away from your
  12sq/ft boxes
• Aligned to Osteopathic principles
• Cross coordination may especially benefit certain
  groups
• Its FUN

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Go with people,live with them,learn from
them,love them.Start with what they
know,build on what they have.With the best of
leaders,when the job is done,the task is
completed,the people will say we have done
this ourselves (Lao Tsu, China 700 bc)
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• every step counts