7th European Congress of the Fédération Internationale de Education Physique (FIEP). Poster presentation full abstract.

1. NORDIC WALKING (RE)EDUCATION 1
Nordic Walking (re)education
Jordi Pau Caballero Oller* and Marc Moreno Tarragó**
* Mountain sports General Manager and Nordic Walking National Coach INWA
** BSc (Hons) Physical activity and Nordic Walking Instructor INWA
Nordic Walking Pirineus – INWA-Spain
Contact: nordicwalkingpirineus@gmail.com
Abstract
Nordic Walking is a physical activity developed in northern Europe that has expanded worldwide.
Its ability to influence a variety of areas makes it a transversal activity in relation to health, physical
conditioning and sports. This explains its projection in tourism, leisure activities, rehabilitation and,
why not, education. However, even with this potential, it remains unknown in some countries. We
will therefore attempt to summarize the key points of this activity and propose a way of
implementation within the educational community.
Keywords: Nordic Walking, education, health
1.- What’s Nordic Walking?
Nordic Walking is a form of physical activity, where to regular natural walking there has been
added the active use of a pair of specially designed Nordic Walking poles. However, the
characteristics of natural, biomechanically correct walking and appropriate posture are maintained
in all aspects. It also means that the arm movements of the correct Nordic Walking technique
respect the range of movement of natural walking.
Technically correct use of poles actively involves the upper body into the work of walking, to propel
the body forward. The physical strain is distributed in a versatile, balanced and appropriate way to
various muscle groups of the whole body.
The correct pole technique gives an opportunity to significantly intensify the process of walking by
increasing the muscle work of the upper body. It also gives an opportunity to involve the muscles of
the rest of the body. Nordic Walking is a safe, natural, dynamic, efficient and suitable-for-all form of
a physical activity that trains the body in a holistic, symmetric and balanced way. The overall goal
of Nordic Walking is a general physical and mental well-being (INWA, 2010).
2.- Origins and development
The fist type of Nordic Walking dates back to the thirties, in Finland, when the national cross
country skiing team started training the skiing technique during the summer, walking and running
with poles. Since then this has been an important off-season training method for every cross
country skier in the world.
The first research about its health benefits date back to 1966 in Finland. Nordic Walking in its
present form was initiated in 1996 when three organizations joined efforts in order to develop it: the
Suomen Latu, the Sports Institute of Vierumäki and Exel, a finish manufacturer of poles. Exel
invents the name “Nordic Walking” in 1997 and introduces the first composite Nordic Walking pole,
giving birth to the international expansion of this new sport. The INWA (International Nordic
Walking Association) is established in Finland in 2000 first as an association and as a federation
later on, with Finland, Austria and Germany as its first members. It is not until 2005 that the
Asociación Deportiva Nordic Walking Catalunya introduces this physical activity in Spain, being
INWA´s representative in Spain. (INWA-Spain, 2011)

2. NORDIC WALKING (RE)EDUCATION 2
3.- The technique, correct teaching and benefits
The 10 step approach to teaching Nordic Walking is based on three principles: correct posture,
correct walking and correct pole technique. It is based on: posture, walking, carrying, dragging,
planting, pushing, extending, recovering, leaning and rotating (INWA, 2011)
A correct technique yields benefits for those who practice it. Among the latest research the
following are outlined:
• Marked improvement not only in their fitness but in their body composition as well. That
improvement could be attributed to the specificity of Nordic Walking, i.e. engagement of
almost all muscles that enabled a more intense workout at a lower perceived fatigue
(Piotrowska, 2011).
• Physiological benefits: improves maximal oxygen uptake, heart rate and energy
expenditure (Morgulec-Adamowicz, Marszalek & Jagustyn, 2011).
• Biomechanic benefits: improves posture, reduces stress on the foot joints (Pérez, Llana,
Encarnación & Fuster 2009) and load reduction effect on the lumbar vertebrae´s shear
force, the hip compression force and the knee shear force (Koizumi, Tsujiuchi, Takeda,
Fujikura, & Kojima, 2011).
• Psychological benefits: regular Nordic Walking in family practice could be used as a form of
rehabilitation for depressed patients (Suija, Pechter, Kalda, Tähepõld, Maaroos & Maaroos,
2009).
4.- Nordic Walking´s educational potential
The unhealthy environments and behaviours in our society led to different international institutions
and bodies to voice their concerns about obesity and overweight problems caused by a sedentary
lifestyle and inactivity, particularly in children (WHO, 2010). Educating via Nordic Walking
permanently communicates formal and informal areas. This means that it is not only used as an
educational tool but as a reeducational one, in a transveral way for most of the population,
integrating different ages, physical conditions and backgrounds. And here lies the true importance
of the professional´s specific training in this physical activity, in order to lead individuals or groups:
• At schools it is possible to implement it on Physical Education and extra-curricular activities.
But also for teachers and as a shared activity for students and their parents. Based on our
own experience with students participating in the activities of the Sports Educational Plan in
Catalunya, via the Sports Councils of Ripollès and Cerdanya, Physical Education classes
should be structured through games and ability circuits with poles and not through teaching
the walking technique. In this way the most boring aspects of learning are eliminated and
motivation is achieved by introducing the active elements. Regarding the teachers there are
two values to consider: on one hand the possibility of having a new innovative and healthy
educational resource, and on the other, knowing the technique, which will invite to its
practice. This will enable teachers to gain the benefits associated to the practice of Nordic
walking, minimising the effects of bad postural habits at work and muscular pain due to the
accumulated tension of the working day.
Examples: Nordic Walking seminar, aimed to teaching body, Sports Council of Baix
Llobregat, 2012 (http://nordicwalkingpirineus.blogspot.com); and the international project
“Walking Towars Health”, 2011-2013 (http://www.walkingtowardshealth.com) carried out by
four secondary schools from Poland, Italy, Portugal, and Catalonia-Spain (Comenius
Programme).

3. NORDIC WALKING (RE)EDUCATION 3
• At health centres, the use of Nordic Walking in prevention measures and as a therapeutic
option for different pathologies represents both an educational activity and a re-educational
action for our bodies in order to restore body balance.
• At sporting entities, introducing this physical activity and providing a continuous technical
improvement, not only focusing on Nordic Walking itself but also as a tool to improve
performance in other sporting activities.
• At the Public Administration, promoting healthy physical activity and coordinating all entities
involved in this matter
Certainly, it is not rare to find a hybrid blending of the mentioned points, thus, making the
transversality of Nordic Walking evident, as it is always linked to one or more attributes:
educational, sporting, touristic, familial, social, healthy, therapeutic, preventive…
5.- Conclusions
Nordic Walking is presented as a learning process of a new technique of adding poles to the
natural way of walking. But most of all, as an educational tool when promoting the health habit of
practicing physical activity. Its maximal potential is gained when practiced in a group.
Little by little we will have a population familiarised with this “kind” physical activity, undoubtedly
facilitating their adherence to it and contributing to breaking free from the social isolation a number
of them suffer. But there is another positive value to consider: thanks to the knowledge and
practice of Nordic Walking, the developed skills and aptitudes will be transferable to everyday life
during our lifetime.
6.- Acknowledgments
Many thanks to Cristina González Castro, BSc (Hons) Sport, Health and Exercise Science and
Nordic Walking INWA Instructor for translating and proofreading this paper, and to every client and
student that we had the pleasure to introduce to this fantastic way of physical activity, Nordic
Walking.
7.- References
INWA (2010). Definition of Nordic Walking. Retrived April 23, 2012, from http://inwa-
nordicwalking.com/
INWA. (2011). INWA Nordic Walking Instructor Course Manual 2011. Helsinki, Finland:
International Nordic Walking Federation.
INWA-Spain (2011). A little bit of history. Retrived April 23, 2012, from
http://nordicwalkinginwafederacion.blogspot.com/
Koizumi, T., Tsujiuchi, N., Takeda, M., Fujikura, R. and Kojima, T. (2011). Load dynamics of joints
in nordic walking. Procedia Engineering, 11, 544-551.
Morgulec-Adamowicz, N., Marszalek, J. and Jagustyn, P. (2011). Nordic Walking - A new form of
adapted physical activity. Human Movement, 12(2), 124-132
Pérez, P., Llana, S., Encarnación, A. and Fuster, M.A. (2009). Nordic Walking: an alternative
physical activity in taking care of the foot. European Journal of Human Movement, 22, 83-94
Piotrowska, J. (2011). Effects of a regular motor activity on somatic and fitness variables in boys
aged 17 – 18 years. Biomedical Human Kinetics, 3, 53-56.

4. NORDIC WALKING (RE)EDUCATION 4
Suija K., Pechter U., Kalda R., Tähepõld H., Maaroos J. and Maaroos H.I. (2009). Physical activity
of depressed patients and their motivation to exercise: nordic walking in family practice.
International Journal Rehabilitation Research, 32 (2), 132-138.
WHO. (2010). Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva, Switzerland: World
Health Organisation.