Nordic Walking as a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Chronic Pain and Fatigue: Systematic Review

We aimed to analyze and summarize the available scientific evidence on the benefits of Nordic walking for people with chronic pain and fatigue.

This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines and conducted a comprehensive search across five databases using the PICO strategy.

Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized trials evaluating Nordic walking for pain and fatigue. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality using the PEDro scale.

A total of 14 studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 136 participants. The methodological quality of the included studies varied from fair (five studies) to good (nine studies). The interventions consisted of supervised Nordic walking sessions lasting 6 to 24 weeks, with a frequency of 2 to 4 days per week and duration of 25 to 75 min. The results of this review suggest that Nordic walking had beneficial effects in six of the eight studies that analyzed participant fatigue. However, Nordic walking did not show greater beneficial effects on fatigue than walking (two studies) or than not performing physical activity (one study). Additionally, six of the nine studies that examined the effects of Nordic walking on participants' perceptions of pain showed beneficial results. However, five studies that compared Nordic walking with control groups did not find any significant inter-group differences on pain.

Based on our findings, Nordic walking exercise programs provide a potentially efficient method for alleviating pain and fatigue in people with chronic conditions. Its straightforwardness and ease of learning make it accessible to a broad spectrum of participants, which can result in higher adherence rates and lasting positive effects.