Get Into Pole Position For A Healthier Heart With This Finnish-Origin Workout

Nordic walking, a Finnish-origin workout using specially designed poles, has been found to be more efficient in patients with coronary heart disease when compared to other cardio exercises.

The finding was published in a study by the Canadian Journal of Cardiology and it clearly showed the superiority of Nordic walking as a form of exercise in post-severe cardio-vascular events.

The comparison was made among three forms of exercise: standard high-intensity interval training, moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training and Nordic walking.

The study was conducted keeping in mind how patients often give up rehabilitation programs once their health improves, mainly out of boredom from the monotonous exercise routines. By including different forms of exercise, the study wishes to keep heart patients engaged in long-term rehabilitation.

“Providing a variety of exercise options enhances patient enjoyment and progression, which is important for adherence and maintenance. Exercise modalities should be prescribed with consideration of patient goals, preferences, and capabilities,” said Carl J. Lavie, MD, University of Queensland School of Medicine, in an accompanying editorial.

In a randomized trial held as part of the study, 130 participants underwent a 12-week rehabilitation and a follow-up after 14 weeks for assessing sustained benefits. While all the exercises alleviated depression symptoms and quality of life, functional capacity was most levitated in Nordic walking. The results were -- leading the pack was Nordic walking (+19%) in comparison to high-intensity interval training (+13%) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training (+12%).

“Patients with coronary artery disease frequently demonstrate diminished functional capacity, low quality of life, and increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality,” explained lead investigator Jennifer L. Reed, PhD., University of Ottawa.

“This is a key finding because lower functional capacity predicts a higher risk of future cardiovascular events in people with coronary artery disease,” added Dr. Reed. “Nordic walking engages core, upper and lower body muscles while reducing loading stress at the knee, which may have resulted in greater improvements in functional capacity.”

The effectiveness of the different training methods was measured by administering the six-minute walk test -- a common and accepted indicator of heart health.