Obese persons with Nordic Walking
Obese persons experiences with Nordic Walking - Nine Case Reports By: Anne Hvidberg Andersson, Siri T. Holm, and Gunilla Munk
Supervisor: Bente Hovmand, Physiotherapist, M.Sc.
Contact:
Gunilla Munk Background: Overweight and inactivity is an increasing health problem in Denmark. If the development continues the percentage of overweight persons in Europe in 2030 will be 60-70% of the total population. Obesity is closely related to life style diseases such as diabetes II, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. Every year millions of Danish crowns are set aside for treatment and prevention of life style diseases.
Purpose: The purpose is to describe and discuss how overweight persons experience and acquire Nordic Walking (NW) as way of exercise.
Materials and Methods: Three women and six men aged 17-52 having a BMI of 28-54 participated. The participants were practicing Nordic Walking for 12 weeks at least 30 minutes per day. Changes in aerobic fitness, fat percentage, body weight, BMI, and strength- endurance of m. triceps brachii were measured. The participants experiences were evaluated on basis of interviews, field notes and a dairy.
Results: The participants felt they increased their speed and obtained a more straight posture during NW. Three out of six interviewed persons have continued NW as their future daily physical activity. All participants expressed their interest in being tested. In the test period the participants have reduced their weight and BMI. The latest testing showed improvements in aerobic endurance and reduced fat percentage.
Discussion: Three of the participants have adopted NW. However some participants should receive individual coaching and support in the beginning of the intervention with NW. NW is suitable for this population. The participants express the view that testing is motivating.
Perspective: Physiotherapists must build-up competence for handling the concept of NW as part of a concept of prevention. We recommend interdisciplinary team cooperation in order to obtain full benefits of NW. More tests should be validated for the overweight population.
Key Words: Nordic Walking, training, Obese, Physical Inactivity, Case Report
Redigeret af : Fysio.dk, 30.06.2009
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