Motivations and effects of practicing Nordic Walking by elderly people

• Authors: Andrzej Knapik , Edward Saulicz , Andrzej Mysliwiec , Mariola Saulicz , Aneta Warmuz-Wancisiewicz
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Background: As a result of numerous advantages of Nordic Walking such as the movement simplicity, its affordability and availability for people of various ages and with different levels of fitness, this relatively young physical activity has been developing remarkably for several years. It has the potential of increasing physical activity among elderly people. Defining to what extent practicing Nordic Walking (NW) influences the general level of physical activity and the quality of life of elderly people. Material/Methods: 161 people were examined (93 women and 68 men) at the age of 60 or above. In this group 48 practised NW: 33 women and 15 men. Health self-assessment was determined using the SF-36 questionnaire, whereas the level of physical activity using the SEWL questionnaire. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted (p <0.05) between respondents practising NW and the control group at the level of both physical activity and health selfassessment. Conclusions: Practising NW positively influences the increase of elderly people’s physical activity, translating to the level of health self-assessment.

Keywords

EN

Nordic Walking; physical activity; self-assessment of health

• Publisher: Versita
• Journal: Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 34-40

Dates

published

1 - 3 - 2014

online

23 - 4 - 2014

Contributors

author

Andrzej Knapik

• Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

author

Edward Saulicz

• Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland

author

Andrzej Mysliwiec

• Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland

author

Mariola Saulicz

• Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland

author

Aneta Warmuz-Wancisiewicz

• Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

References

• 1. Turk Z, Vidensek S, Micetic-Turk D. Nordic walking: a new form of physical activity in the elderly. Acta Med Croatica. 2007;61, Suppl.1:33-36.
• 2. Kocur P, Wilk M. Nordic Walking - nowa forma ćwiczeń w rehabilitacji. [Nordic Walking - a new form of exercise in rehabilitation] Rehabilitacja Medyczna. 2006;(10)2:9-14. Polish.
• 3. Saulicz M, Saulicz E, Knapik A, Medrek M, Rottermund J. Wplyw 4-tygodniowego programu treningowego nordic walking na sprawnosc fizyczna osob w wieku srednim. [Influence of 4-week training program of Nordic Walking on physical fitness in middle-aged people] Eukrasia. Fizjoterapia: nowe potrzeby - nowe mozliwosci. 2010;12:163-168. Polish.
• 4. Figard-Fabre H, Fabre N, Leonardi A, Schena F. Efficacy of Nordic Walking in obesity management. Int J Sposrts Med. 2011;32(6):407-14, doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1268461[Crossref]
• 5. Figard-Fabre H, Fabre N, Leonardi A, Schena F. Physiological and perceptual responses to Nordic walking in obese middle-aged women in comparison with the normal walk. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010;108(6): 1141-51. doi: 10.1007/s00421-009-1315-z[WoS][Crossref]
• 6. Church TS, Earnest CP, Morss GM. Field testing of physiological responses associated with Nordic Walking. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2002;73(3):296-300.[Crossref]
• 7. Kocur P, Deskur-Smielecka E, Wilk M, Dylewicz P. Effects of Nordic Walking training on exercise capacity and fitness in men participating in early, short-term inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome - a controlled trial. Clin Rehab. 2009;23(11):995-1004. doi: 10.1177/0269215509337464[Crossref]
• 8. Van Eijkeren FJ, Reijmers RS, Kleinveld MJ, Minten AA, Bruggen JP, Bloem BR. Nordic walking improves mobility in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2008;23(15):2239-2243. doi: 10.1002/mds.22293[Crossref][PubMed]
• 9. Jones KD. Nordic walking in fibromyalgia: a means of promoting fitness that is easy for busy clinicians to recommend. Arthritis Res Ther. 2011;13(1):103. doi: 10.1186/ar3225[Crossref][PubMed][WoS]
• 10. Mannerkorpi K, Nordeman L, Cider A, Jonsson G. Does moderate-to-high intensity Nordic walking improve functional capacity and pain in fibromyalgia? A prospective randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(5):R189. doi: 10.1186/ar3159[WoS][Crossref]
• 11. Suija K, Pechter U, Kalda R, Tahepold H, Maaroos J, Maaroos HI. Physical activity of depressed patients and their motivation to exercise: Nordic Walking in family practice. Int J Rehabil Res. 2009;32(2): 132-138. doi: 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32831e44ef[Crossref][PubMed]
• 12. Panaszek B, Machaj Z, Lindner K. Wielochorobowosc w podeszlym wieku - implikacje terapeutyczne. [Multi-illnesses in elderly - therapeutic implications] Terapia. 2010;10(247):4-9. Polish.
• 13. Baecke JAH, Burema J, Frijtes JER. A short questionnaire for the measurement of habitual physical activity in epidemiological studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 1982;36:936-942.
• 14. Knapik A, Saulicz E, Kuszewski M, Plinta R. An analysis of relations between a self-assessment of health and active life-style. Med Sportiva. 2009;(13)1:17-21.[Crossref]
• 15. Ware JE, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36). Med Care. 1992;30:473-483.[Crossref]
• 16. Ware JE Jr, Kosinski M, Dewey JE. How to score version two of the SF-36 Health Survey. Lincoln, RI: Quality Metric Incorporated; 2000.
• 17. Prognoza ludności na lata 2003-2030. [Population projection for the years 2003-2030.] Available from [http://www.funduszestrukturalne.gov.pl/] [access on 11.01.2010]. Polish.
• 18. Rowe JW, Kahn RL. Human aging: usual and successful. Science. 1987;237(4811):143-149.
• 19. Rowe JW, Kahn RL. Successful aging. The Gerontologist. 1997;37(4):433-440.[PubMed]
• 20. Gryglewska B. Prewencja gerontologiczna. [Gerontological prevention] In: Grodzicki T, Kocemba J, Skalska A, eds. Geriatrics with elements of the general gerontology. Gdansk: Via Medica; 2006, 47-52.
• 21. Zielinska-Wieczkowska H, Kedziora-Kornatowska K. Jakosc starzenia sie i starosci w subiektywnej ocenie sluchaczy Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku. [A quality of aging and old age in the subjective assessment of students at the Third Age University] Gerontol Pol. 2009;17(3):137-142. Polish.
• 22. Drabik J. Aktywnosc fizyczna w edukacji zdrowotnej spoleczenstwa. [Physical activity in public health education] Gdansk: AWF; 1995. Polish.
• 23. Ellington T, Conn V. Exercise and quality of life in elderly individuals. J Nurs Gerontol 2000;26(3):17-25.
• 24. Gebska-Kuczerowska A. Ocena zaleznosci miedzy aktywnoscia a stanem zdrowia ludzi w podeszlym wieku. [Assessment of the impact of physical activity on the health status of elderly people] Przegl Epidemiol. 2002;56:471-477. Polish.
• 25. Grzegorczyk J, Kwolek A, Wolan A, Szeliga E, Bazarnik K. Ocena stanu emocjonalnego aktywnych seniorow. [Assessment of emotional condition of active seniors.] Przegl Med Uniw Med Rzeszowskiego. 2008;1:27-33. Polish.
• 26. Knapik A, Plinta R, Saulicz E, Mysliwiec A, Rottermund J. Aktywnosc a samoocena zdrowia kobiet w starszym wieku - sluchaczek Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku. [Activity and self-esteem of women's health in old age - students of the Third Age University] In: Augustyn A, Lacina-Laniecki A, red. Znaczenie aktywnosci edukacyjnej i zawodowej w zyciu człowieka. Lodz: AHE; 2010, 459-466. Polish.
• 27. Knapik A, Rottermund J, Mysliwiec A, Plinta R, Gruca M. Aktywnosc fizyczna a samoocena zdrowia osob w starszym wieku. [Physical activity and health self-assessment of the elderly] Przegl Med Uniw Rzeszowskiego i Narodowego Instytutu Lekow w Warszawie. 2011;(9)2:195-204. Polish.

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/bjha-2014-0004