Studies Supporting the Benefits of Pole Walking:

Reducing Stress on Knees and Lower Extremities

“From the data analysis, it was concluded that (a) the telescope-style running poles altered the lower-extremity running kinetics by decreasing the knee flexion during the swing phase and increasing the maximum hip hyperextension, and (b) the funning poles generally reduced the foot-ground interaction and provided a source of propulsion during the push-off phase of the running gait, decreasing the amount of force and impulse imposed upon the foot in subjects with chronic knee problems.”

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Young-Hoo Kwon, Lori R. Bolt, and Jackun Shim
Mechanics of Pole Running in Subjects with Chronic Knee Problems
Ball State University, Muncie, Indianna, USA

Calorie Expenditure

A study by the Cooper Institute showed that pole walking resulted in approximately a 20% increase in oxygen consumption and energy expenditure compared to regular walking at the same speed. Thus, the implementation of upper body muscular work while walking increases the amount of calories burned. This finding has important health implications as an individual who employs walking with poles as opposed to regular walking into their regular fitness program will significantly increase the amount of calories burned particularly over an extended period of time.

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A. Karawan, J.P. Porcari, N.K. Butts, A.M. Postmus, L. Stoughton, & J. Larkin.
Effects Of 12 Weeks Of Walking Or Exerstriding On Upper Body Strength And Endurance
La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, UW-La Crosse and Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, WI

Calorie Expenditure

Walking poles work your arms, shoulders, chest and upper back muscles through a full range of motion as you walk. Think of it as cross-country skiing for walkers: With one walking pole in each hand, you grip the handles and push off with each stride. The arm movement adds intensity to your aerobic workout, which can help you burn more calories.

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Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Edward Laskowski, M.D.,
Walking poles: Good way to maximize a daily walk?
Mayo Clinic

Cardio Respiratory Health Benefits It was found that the use of poles significantly increased oxygen uptake, heart rate and energy expenditure by approximately 20% compared to walking without poles in fit subjects. In Porcari’s study of 32 healthy men and women walking with poles, results were an average 23% higher oxygen uptake, 22% higher caloric expenditure and 16% higher heart rate responses compared to walking without poles on a treadmill. Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) values averaged 1.5 units higher with the use of poles and the pattern of responses were similar for men and women.   Read external article Porcari JP, Hendrickson TL, Walter PR, Terry L, Walsko G. The physiological responses to walking with and without Power Poles on treadmill exercise. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 1997 Jun; 68(2): 161-6

Neck and Shoulders

The Finnish Helsinki Polytechnic's Faculty of Health Care studied the impact of regular participation in Nordic walking in spring 1999. They studied women working mainly with PCs and their symptoms in the neck and shoulder area and the mobility of the cervical and pectoral spine. The study showed that the symptoms in the neck and shoulder are disappeared among more than half of the participants and that the mobility of the cervical and pectoral spine improved significantly. Among older persons the use of poles is a factor of safety as they may prevent falling at the time improving mobility.

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Anttila et al. 1999