Nordic Walking is an enhanced walking technique that uses poles to work your upper body as well as your legs. It gives you a highly effective all over workout that doesn’t feel like one! Nordic Walking is a fun and social activity that can be enjoyed in town centres or open countryside throughout the year.

Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles – not to be confused with trekking poles – to enhance your natural walking experience. With a technique that is similar to the upper body action of classic cross-country skiing, Nordic Walking is a genuinely whole body exercise that can be enjoyed at many levels, at low, medium or high intensity. More than 10 million people globally enjoy this outdoor activity all year round.

If you can walk you can Nordic Walk! It really is for everyone. The poles mean that effort is shared between the upper and lower body so it actually feels easier than normal walking, particularly uphill. Nordic Walking puts less strain on joints than other activities and can be very effective for people with mobility issues or those recovering from illness or injury. It’s also great exercise for toning problem areas such as the upper arms and abdominal muscles.

• It’s an ideal activity if you haven’t exercised for a while or dislike traditional sports or gym activities. 
• It is helpful if you have had an injury as the poles can support and guide you while you work to improve fitness as part of your rehabilitation.
• It is great for athletes for cross training.  
• It provides community groups with a sociable way to keep fit. 
• And it’s fantastic if you’d like to shed a few pounds.

Whatever your age, from 8 to 80+, you’ll enjoy discovering the benefits of Nordic Walking that improve your quality of life.

Nordic Walking is a popular way for people with long-term conditions to gain or maintain a level of activity that will help them manage their health. General health benefits of Nordic Walking, that everyone can benefit from, include: 

• Significant increase in oxygen consumption by 20% compared to normal walking, with increased calorie expenditure and heart rate compared to normal walking.
• Increase in walking distance and speed by 30%.
• Improvement in upper body strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility.
• Improvement in core stability and strength, spinal mobility and posture.

Research also shows that Nordic Walking brings specific benefits to people with long-term conditions and those recovering from illness, injuries and operations, for example: 

• People living with Parkinson’s find that Nordic Walking helps them with stability, improves their stride length, positively challenges their co-ordination, and improves neuroplasticity.
• People with arthritis benefit from a form of activity that allows their weight to be borne through four limbs instead of two, reducing strain on affected joints.
• The enhanced calorie burn of Nordic Walking over ordinary walking is beneficial for anyone who needs to lose weight.
• Diabetics and pre-diabetics benefit from improved blood sugar control (regardless of any weight loss).
• Nordic Walking makes activity accessible to people recovering after hip or knee replacements.
• Nordic Walking is beneficial for improving common breast cancer symptoms including upper body and core strength, lymphedema, physical fitness and the perception of swelling and pain.

Nordic Walking combines the simplicity of walking with core and upper body conditioning similar to Nordic skiing. This gives you a full body workout, which means that you can:

• Burn around 20% more calories compared to walking without poles.
• Release tension in your neck and shoulders.
• Improve your posture and gait.
• Strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.
• Reduce the impact on your joints.

 And because Nordic Walking doesn’t feel like hard work you’ll be happy to walk further and for longer.

Social prescribing enables GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services to help address the needs of people: 

• With one or more long-term conditions.
• Who need support with their mental health.
• Who are lonely or isolated.
• Who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Social prescribing can apply to a wide range of activities that can support these individuals. 

Nordic Walking is an activity well recognised as having many benefits for physical and mental health, backed up by a body of international research. Many people take up Nordic Walking because a health condition or injury means that they can no longer pursue their favourite fitness activities or because their change in circumstances mean that taking up physical activity has a new appeal. 

Nordic Walking is a very sociable activity with most Nordic Walkers joining regular Nordic Walking groups and many developing new social networks and lasting friendships. 

As an activity that is very accessible, it makes the known mental health benefits of physical activity available to all. Specific research into Nordic Walking shows that it has a positive effect on: 

• Depression,
• Sleep disorders,
• Mood, and
• Self-esteem.

As an outdoor activity, of course, Nordic Walking also gives people a taste of “ecotherapy”, recognised by the charity Mind as a clinically valid treatment for mental distress.