11 January 2024 , 13:38
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Trying to lose weight can be tricky, especially when you're not confident with exercise, but fitness enthusiasts have hailed the Nordic walking technique which can help lose weight and also "slow down" the progression of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's is a debilitating condition, and the most common form of dementia, that affects everyday life and affects those mostly over the age of 65. Being sedentary, not getting enough sleep and having a poor diet can be factors in increasing the chances of developing it, but this walking technique has shown it could slow down the progression. The walking craze, which has increased in popularity in recent years was studied by scientists in Italy - who found a link between the specific walking exercise and keeping dementia at bay.
The technique can burn 20% more calories compared to walking without poles (Getty Images)The disease, which affects almost a million people in the UK and around six million in the US includes loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other abilities, and as there is no drug to cure it, there are lifestyle habits that can be done to help prevent and slow it down.
Nordic Walking is a form of exercise which uses the whole body due to the specially designed walking poles and according to the British Nordic Walking group, the activity can help you "burn 20% more calories compared to walking without poles". The poles are used to help you get moving during a brisk stroll and will give your body an all-over workout compared to just a normal walk.
It also helps to release tension in your neck and shoulders, as well as helping to improve posture, gait, back strength and abdominal muscle strength and also helps to reduce impact on joints, hence a good way to boost weight loss. Walking has many other health benefits also, including preventing and managing various conditions such as high blood pressure.
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The scientists from the University of Molise, Italy took 30 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's and got them to all undergo a different range of treatments that might help to tackle their symptoms. These treatments included physiotherapy to help boost physical well-being as well as music therapy to help stop their memory decline.
Half of the group also participated in Nordic walking twice a week for six months, and the walkers ended up scoring much higher in memory, attention span and brain processing speed compared to those who didn't. They also scored higher in visual-spatial reasoning tests - including mental maths and tying shoelaces.
The report was published in the science journal Heliyon, and the scientists suggested that people who have just been diagnosed with dementia would benefit from the walking technique. The study said: "'If these results are confirmed by bigger studies, then Nordic walking may be a safe and useful strategy to slow down cognitive impairment in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease".
If you want to take up Nordic walking, first you will need to buy a pair of Nordic walking poles - specially designed to provide forward propulsion when used at an angle.
Nordic walking instructor Michael Stone, from Warner's Littlecote House Hotel, explained the method as The Mirror previously reported:
1. You need to make sure the poles are right for your body height
When holding the pole out vertically with your arm close to your body your elbow should be at a 90-degree angle
2. For technique you should make contact with the ground with the heel, then roll onto the ball of the foot, which reduces pressure on joints
3. Gently push off your toes with each step
4. Take long strides which feel natural to your body
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5. Lean forward slightly from your ankles
6. Drive your poles into the ground between your front and back foot when you stride
7. Be sure to keep your shoulders down and relaxed to avoid tension
8. Increase speed to burn more calories by increasing the strength of your push-off from your toes. Then quicken the pace of your arm swing to get more power.