Heart disease: Nordic walking could help people with the condition - what is it?
msn.comREAD MORE: Hair loss: 'Hair-care' habits 'responsible' for permanent hair lossThe goal of the exercise and of recovering from heart disease is to increase functional capacity; a way to measure the ability of someone to physically perform tasks.
Speaking about the research, lead investigator Dr Jennifer Reed said: "Patients with coronary artery disease frequently demonstrate diminished functional capacity, low quality of life and increased the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events and mortality. "As to why Nordic walking was beneficial, Dr Reed explained: "Nordic walking engages core, upper and lower body muscles while reducing loading stress at the knee, which may have resulted in greater improvements in functional capacity. "This is a key finding because lower functional capacity predicts higher risk of future cardiovascular events in people with coronary artery disease. "According to the researchers, their study is a leading one in the field.
Tasuki Terada of the University of Ottawa, where the research was conducted, said: "No previous study has directly compared the long-term effects of high-intensity interval training, moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training and Nordic walking. "This study is novel in that it simultaneously compared the sustained effects (i.
e. , 14 weeks after the completion of cardiovascular rehabilitation) of different exercise programs that can readily be incorporated into daily exercise. "Terada said the study's findings "can impact patient care by providing alternative exercise options based on their interests and needs".
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