Higher Heart Rate But Lower Exertion
I recently participated in a test at the Vuokatti Sports Center in Finland, along with other walking editors. We walked a steady pace on a treadmill with and without nordic walking poles. The poles raised my heartrate by 10 bpm at the same speed. The other editors reported that walking felt easier with the poles than without, yet their heart rates were increased.
Many fitness walkers do not like the feeling of exerting themselves, yet the best health benefits come from a moderate intensity workout rather than an easy workout. Nordic walking poles raise the heart rate into the moderate intensity zone without the walker feeling like they are working any harder.
Fat Burning Zone
Nordic walking exertion is in the fat-burning zone. Researchers at Vuokatti showed how much fat vs. carbohydrate burning was done with and without poles. More fat-burning when using the poles was most evident with the editor who used the correct pole technique.
Better Workout at the Same Speed
Adopting a fast walking technique or racewalking is a great way to pump up your walking workout. But nordic walking poles are an alternative for those who have difficulty walking faster or do not like to walk faster. By using the nordic walking poles at your usual walking speed, you increase your workout without going faster. This is also a good alternative for those whose walking partners cannot go faster.
Next page: > Who's Using the Poles?
