No Influence of Mechatronic Poles on the Movement Pattern of Professional Nordic Walkers

Szpala, Agnieszka; Winiarski, Sławomir; Kołodziej, Małgorzata; Pietraszewski, Bogdan; Jasiński, Ryszard; Niebudek, Tadeusz; Lejczak, Andrzej; Lorek, Karolina; Bałchanowski, J.; Wudarczyk, S.; Woźniewski, Marek

doi:10.3390/ijerph20010163

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In the parameters relating to the joints of the lower limb in the group of NW instructors, significant differences were found for hip flexion-extension, ankle ab/adduction, and ankle inversion-eversion. No significant differences in the group of elderly people were confirmed for kinematic parameters of lower limb joints and trunk movements [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles

Szpala,

Winiarski,

Kołodziej

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

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This investigation aimed to scrutinise the kinematic and spatio-temporal characteristics of free and Nordic walking (NW) in older adults, utilising both traditional and biosensor-integrated mechatronic poles. The hypothesis was that including biosensors for gait analysis in NW poles would not disrupt the walking pattern of older adults compared to standard poles. The study involved seniors aged 65–74 who were amateur Nordic Walking (NW) practitioners. They were instructed to traverse a 100-m distance three times: without poles, with traditional NW poles, and with mechatronic poles. The MyoMOTION MR3 system was used to gather biomechanical data. The study revealed differences in eight kinematic parameters and stride time between free walking and walking with poles. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in any of the parameters, regardless of the pole type used. The findings suggest that older NW practitioners tend to employ free walking patterns even when using poles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles

Szpala,

Winiarski,

Kołodziej

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

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“…The construction of mechatronic sticks has been thoroughly described in our previous studies 28,29 . For the purpose of this study, it is essential to understand that these are not ordinary Nordic Walking poles but are enhanced with sophisticated technology aimed at precise gait analysis.…”

Section: Testing Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of nordic walking training on gait and exercise tolerance in male ischemic heart disease patients

Szpala,

Winiarski,

Kołodziej

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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This technique-focused observational study explores the impact of a 6-week Nordic Walking (NW) program on physiological and biomechanical aspects in ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients. Twelve male IHD patients (66.2 ± 5.2 years, 12.2 ± 7.5 years of disease duration) were evaluated pre- and post-training for (i) gait parameters, (ii) exercise tolerance using electrocardiographic (ECG) stress test, (iii) a 6-min walk test (6MWT). The NW training, adhering to IHD patient guidelines, involved a 100-m walk at a self-selected, preferred speed without sticks, with classic NW sticks and mechatronic sticks. A mechatronic measuring system, specifically engineered for measuring, diagnosing and monitoring the patient's gait, was integrated into mechatronic sticks. Post-training, significant enhancements were observed in ECG stress test duration, metabolic equivalency, and 6MWT distance, irrespective of the stick type. However, no significant changes were noted in spatiotemporal parameters concerning the measured side, stick utilisation, or type. The results suggest that NW training boosts exercise capacity and refines gait mechanics in male IHD patients. However, the improvement in exercise capacity was not linked to changes in gait mechanics from NW training but rather to the movement during NW gait. Hence, the key to enhancing exercise capacity in IHD patients is the movement during NW gait, not the quality of gait mechanics.

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“…The attached mechatronic components have increased the weight of the standard NW pole by 0.1 kg. The tests conducted on signals from the inertial sensors, pressure sensors, and distance sensors have confirmed sufficient accuracy for the study of gait biomechanics [ 17 – 19 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Mechatronic Poles Change the Gait Technique of Nordic Walking in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease?

Szpala

Winiarski

Kołodziej

et al. 2023

Applied Bionics and Biomechanics

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The study aimed to compare the technique of normal gait with the Nordic walking (NW) gait with classical and mechatronic poles in patients with ischemic heart disease. It was assumed that equipping classical NW poles with sensors enabling biomechanical gait analysis would not cause a change in the gait pattern. The study involved 12 men suffering from ischemic heart disease (age: 66.2 ± 5.2 years, body height: 173.8 ± 6.74 cm; body mass: 87.3 ± 10.89 kg; disease duration: 12.2 ± 7.5 years). The MyoMOTION 3D inertial motion capture system (Noraxon Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, USA) was used to collect biomechanical variables of gait (spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters). The subject’s task was to cover the 100 m distance with three types of gait-walking without poles (normal gait), walking with classical poles to NW, and walking with mechatronic poles from the so-called preferred velocity. Parameters were measured on the right and left sides of the body. The data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with the between-subject factor “body side.” Friedman’s test was used when necessary. For most kinematic parameters, with the exception of knee flexion–extension ( p = 0.474 ) and shoulder flexion–extension ( p = 0.094 ), significant differences were found between normal and walking with poles for both the left and right side of the body and no differences due to the type of pole. Differences between the left and right movement ranges were identified only for the ankle inversion–eversion parameter (gait without poles p = 0.047 ; gait with classical poles p = 0.013 ). In the case of spatiotemporal parameters, a reduction in the cadence step value using mechatronic poles and the stance phase using classical poles compared to normal walking was observed. There was also an increase in the values for step length and step time regardless of the type of poles, stride length, and swing phase when using classical poles and stride time when using mechatronic poles. The differences between the right and left sides of the measurement occurred when walking with both types of poles for single support (gait with classical poles p = 0.003 ; gait with mechatronic poles p = 0.030 ), stance phase (gait with classical poles p = 0.028 ; gait with mechatronic poles p = 0.017 ) and swing phase (gait with classical poles p = 0.028 ; gait with mechatronic poles p = 0.017 ). Mechatronic poles can be used in the study of the biomechanics of gait in real-time with feedback on its regularity because no statistically significant differences were found between the NW gait with classical and mechatronic poles in the studied men with ischemic heart disease.

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No Influence of Mechatronic Poles on the Movement Pattern of Professional Nordic Walkers

Cited by 5 publications

References 21 publications

Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles

Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles

Effects of nordic walking training on gait and exercise tolerance in male ischemic heart disease patients

Do Mechatronic Poles Change the Gait Technique of Nordic Walking in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease?

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