Getting Exercise With Nordic Walking

Nordic Walking Trio
Scott Markewitz/Creative RF/Getty
Table of Contents
View All
Table of Contents

How can you make walking a better overall workout without feeling like you are exerting any more energy? How can you overcome the slouching, neck and shoulder pain many get from working at desks and computers? Across Europe, millions of people have taken up Nordic walking to give them a good workout and loosen their neck and shoulders.

What Is Nordic Walking?

Nordic walking uses two specially designed poles to work the upper body while walking. Like cross country skiing, the poles are used by the arms to match each step the person takes. When participating in Nordic walking, you get a boost in intensity from the arm activity.

Nordic walking is different than walking with poles to help with balance and stability or to take pressure off your joints. In Nordic walking the poles engage more muscles and boost the intensity of exercise.

In Nordic walking, the poles remain behind the body and become an extension of your arms. This is different than walking or hiking with poles in which you keep them in front of you or along side of you for better balance or to take pressure off of joints especially on rocky or downhill terrain. Knowing how to use poles correctly during Nordic walking can ensure you get all the benefits.

Health Benefits


Upper Body Workout

Exercise experts do not recommend walking with arm weights, which is another popular way to add an upper body workout to a walk. Arm weights put unnatural stress on joints, especially over the length of a recommended fitness walk of a half hour to two hours.


Nordic walking may also improve upper body strength. Unlike regular walking, walking with poles engages the arms, shoulders, and back muscles with a brisk, pumping motion in each step. In fact, a 2017 study analyzed office workers who completed 12 weeks of Nordic walking. Researchers found that they had greater shoulder mobility and less pain in their trapezius muscles. Nordic walking has even been found to increase upper body muscle strength better than resistance training.

Stability and Posture


Relaxes the Upper Body


Using the correct Nordic walking technique with relaxed shoulders, keeping the poles behind the body and using a full range of motion, the walker also releases stress carried in the shoulders and neck. Taking the arms and shoulders through the full range of motion throughout a 30-minute walk is a great antidote to the slouching many people do over desks and computers.

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.

Also, By adding the upper body workout, calorie-burning is increased 10 to 20% increase yet with no increase in how hard the walker feels they are exercising. Nordic walkers get a "total body" workout without feeling like they are working any harder than just walking.

Nordic walking burns more calories and enhances a fat-burning walking workout. Most walkers will increase their workout by 10 to 20 percent.

Equipment Options

Athletes and military personnel in Finland have been using walking poles during their summer walking and running workouts for decades. Several varieties of Nordic walking poles are on the market for use in Nordic walking techniques. There are several options and features that you may want to consider

Release Systems

There are different glove or strap release systems. Leki Nordic walking poles have an easy to use release system so you can quickly remove your hand and the demi-glove from the poles, and quickly click them back to the poles. This is very helpful for restroom stops, etc.


With the Nordic walking technique, the walker does not need to grip the pole at all, it travels via the strap/glove. A true Nordic walking pole does not have a grip that flares at the bottom of the hand, as that hampers releasing the grip at the back of each arm swing. Flared-bottom grips are used in trekking poles where the hiker may bear down on them. Nordic walking grips are usually streamlined and narrow.


Materials may include aluminum or carbon fiber. Claims are made for the superiority of each for shock absorption, and durability. Some poles are heavier, some very light. In general, adjustable poles or spring systems add weight to the poles.


Poles may be adjustable or fixed length. The length of the pole is critical to being able to use the right technique. A fixed-length pole is usually the lightest weight choice, and on even terrain, there is no need to adjust the pole height. But for those who want to share the poles or want to be able to more easily pack them, telescoping poles are desirable. Check the pole for a good locking system that is easy to adjust yet resists loosening accidentally.


You'll use spike tips for nature trails and rubber tips for sidewalk or road walking. The rubber tips should be secure enough to stay put, yet easy to remove when you want to use the spike tip.


Springs or other cushioning systems are elements that are more appropriate for trekking poles, but are found on some Nordic walking designs.

Lastly, you'll want to consider wrist straps and demi gloves. A comfortable demi-glove is essential to ease of use with Nordic walking poles. The glove should fit well and not cause chafing. These glove systems are constantly improving, check the latest models. For some brands, you can order replacement gloves for the newest design.


Proper Technique

Proper technique for Nordic walking with poles is a simple enhancement of normal arm swing when walking. The poles remain behind the body and pointing diagonally backward at all times.

This 10-step process begins by relaxing the upper body:

  1. Shoulders are relaxed and down
  2. Poles are held close to the body
  3. The hands are opened slightly to allow the poles to swing forward—the poles are not gripped but swing from the wrist straps.
  4. The leading foot strikes the ground
  5. The opposite arm swings forward to waist height
  6. The opposite pole strikes the ground level with the heel of the opposite foot
  7. The poles remain pointing diagonally backward, they are never in front of the body
  10. The arm motion is loose and relaxed

Keeping the arms relaxed and keeping the poles behind the body are key elements in the proper technique. Many people use the wrong techniques, planting the poles in front of the body and bending the elbow too much.

Was this page helpful?
Article Sources