Jordi-Pau Caballero, NW national coach; Marc Moreno, BSc(Hons) Sport Science. NORDIC WALKING PIRINEUS – INWA-Spain

NORDIC WALKING, A HEALTHY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: PARTNERSHIPS AND EXPERIENCIES IN HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS

1. INTRODUCTION

Nordic Walking: Healthy physical activity

Basis:Posture and correct walking

technique Correct use of NW poles

Conditions:Suitable for any walker

Integrative and sustainable, affordable, social, y environmentally

friendly

Benefits:Adherence to physical activity,

efficiency and low feeling of tiredness

Practice levels:Health, fitness y sport

nordicwalkingpirineus@gmail.com http://nordicwalkingpirineus.blogspot.com

Action:Health promotion via Nordic Walking initiation courses in partnership with several councils in la Cerdanya (2010-2011)

6 curses

72 recipients58,34% women41,66% men

Ajuntament Ajuntament d’ Alp de Puigcerdà

Ajuntament Ajuntament de Llivia de Ger

2. OBJETIVES

• To promote Nordic Walking ´s technique and benefits• To improve health via adherence to physical activity• Model to invite other people to engage with physical activity

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2nordicwalkingpirineus@gmail.com http://nordicwalkingpirineus.blogspot.com

3. METODOLOGY

- Nordic Walking initiation course:

a.) Modality: intensive, one day, Saturday -7 hours-.b.) Modality: one month, 3 Saturdays and 3 Sundays -9 hours-.

Theoretical and practical sessions, warm up and cool down stretching. Origins of NW, INWA, health benefits, material, l10 Step Teaching Method...

4. RESULTS

Recipients evaluation: pleasantly surprised, very positiveWho practices: minimum 26 persons, 36,25% of those enroledRecipients with conditions: 4 Who practices: 2 regularly, 2 ocassionallyResults: (recipients 2010, evaluation2011)• Male 75 years old, broken tendons. Joint mobility recovery, frontal elevation of the arms from 90º to 135º • Female, 54 years old right arm lymphatic nodes removed. Recovery and improvement of physical tone and emotional state post-quimio and post-radiotherapy• Female, 56 years old with fibromyalgia. Improvement of activity levels and general emotional state• Female 49 years old, elephantiasi ein lower limbs and arthrosis ein knees leading to lymphoedema and renal failure. Weight loss and substantial improvement of mobility.

3nordicwalkingpirineus@gmail.com http://nordicwalkingpirineus.blogspot.com

6. DISCUSSION

The future is here and there is a necessity to unite work and effort inn order to:

5. CONCLUSIONS

• Nordic Walking emerges as a novel and innovative physical activity in health promotion, with great therapeutic and social potential.• Partnership within public administrations, healthcare and sports professionals y fundamental in order to:

- Promote and disseminate the potential of this healthy physical activity.- Instruction of the technique to the recipients.- To implement resources and create synergies to ease access to this physical

activity.

Jornades esportives de BolvirDilluns 2 d’abril de 2012

TAST DE NORDIC WALKINGHora: 17:00 Poliesportiu

Activitat gratuïta

Ajuntament de Bolvir

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Engage public communication channels in the promotion of this physical activity.

Self-demandigness, rigor and professionalism of those promoting Nordic Walking.

To engage the scientific and educational sectors intoscientifically researching Nordic Walking´s potential.