title: The effects of Nordic Walking training on selected upper-body muscle groups in female-office workers: A randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular Nordic Walking training could improve fitness and reduce tenderness in selected muscle groups in office workers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  An assessment of the effects of a 12-week Nordic Walking training program on the perceived pain threshold (PPT) and the flexibility of selected upper-body muscle groups in postmenopausal female office workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 office workers were selected at random for the treatment group (NWg, n = 20) and the control group (Cg, n = 19). The persons from the NW group completed a 12-week Nordic Walking training program (3 times a week/1 hour). PPTs measurements in selected muscles and functional tests evaluating upper-body flexibility (Back Scratch - BS) were carried out twice in every participant of the study: before and after the training program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in PPT (kg/cm2) was observed in the following muscles in the NW group only: upper trapezius (from 1,32 kg/cm2 to 1,99 kg/cm2), mid trapezius (from 2,92 kg/cm2 to 3,30 kg/cm2), latissimus dorsi (from 1,66 kg/cm2 to 2,21 kg/cm2) and infraspinatus (from 1,63 kg/cm2 to 2,93 kg/cm2). Moreover, a significant improvement in the BS test was noted in the NW group compared with the control group (from -1,16±5,7 cm to 2,18±5,1 cm in the NW group vs from -2,52±6,1 to -2,92±6,2 in the control group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 12-week Nordic Walking training routine improves shoulder mobility and reduces tenderness in the following muscles: trapezius pars descendens and middle trapezius, infraspinatus and latissimus dorsi, in female office workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocur
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pospieszna
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choszczewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michalowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiernicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewandowski
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000639:trends*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D034941:Upper Extremity
keywords: Perceived pain threshold; aerobic training; physiotherapy