f you look at any Nordic Walking website, you will see the author talk about the benefits. They always tout the percentages that NW improves many key body measurements. I do, too. Where did they come from? The Dallas Cooper Aerobics Institute.
Dr Cooper was an Air Force doctor. In the 1960’s he came up with the fitness test for all personnel. I was in the Air Force and I had to take the annual test. We had to run a mile and half in under 10 minutes.
Knowing that the record for the mile is about 4 minutes, this seemed like an impossible task. Oh, Dr Cooper coined the word “aerobics,” so he knows what he’s doing.
After he got out, he started his clinic to work on aerobic studies. In 2002, they evaluated the emerging fitness activity of a new thing called Nordic Walking, pole walking, striding, etc. Here are his published results.
Cooper Nordic Walking Study…men then women
As you talk with your friends, here’s what you can tell them. Dr. Tim Church, Medical Laboratory Director for the Cooper Institute: “I oversaw the research examining the caloric expenditure and oxygen consumption associated with Nordic Walking. 11 males and 11 females participated in our study. The participants walked on an outside track first with normal walking. This was followed by a Nordic Walking session. Participants carried a metabolic unit, which measures oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure. What we found is that on average there was a 20% increase in caloric expenditure and in oxygen consumption in a study group when using the poles. Additionally there was a 6% increase in heart rate when using the poles.”
Carpe Diem!