Effects of Nordic walking and walking on spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction force.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Nordic walking and walking on spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction force. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 30 young adult males, who were divided into a Nordic walking group of 15 subjects and a walking group of 15 subjects. [Methods] To analyze the spatiotemporal parameters and ground reaction force during walking in the two groups, the six-camera Vicon MX motion analysis system was used. The subjects were asked to walk 12 meters using the more comfortable walking method for them between Nordic walking and walking. After they walked 12 meters more than 10 times, their most natural walking patterns were chosen three times and analyzed. To determine the pole for Nordic walking, each subject's height was multiplied by 0.68. We then measured the spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction force. [Results] Compared with the walking group, the Nordic walking group showed an increase in cadence, stride length, and step length, and a decrease in stride time, step time, and vertical ground reaction force. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicate that Nordic walking increases the stride and can be considered as helping patients with diseases affecting their gait. This demonstrates that Nordic walking is more effective in improving functional capabilities by promoting effective energy use and reducing the lower limb load, because the weight of the upper and lower limbs is dispersed during Nordic walking.
Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Seung Kyu
SK
Park
Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Dae Jung
DJ
Yang
Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Yang Hun
YH
Kang
Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Je Ho
JH
Kim
Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Sehan University, Republic of Korea.
Yo Han
YH
Uhm
Department of Physical Therapy, Mokpo Won-Kwang Oriental Hospital, Republic of Korea.
Yong Seon
YS
Lee
Ground reaction force; Nordic walking; Spatiotemporal gait parameters