Nordic walking incorporates trekking poles, similar to ski poles, to simultaneously engage both the upper and lower body, providing a comprehensive approach to fitness. A 2013 study in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine highlighted Nordic walking as an accessible method to support cardiovascular health.

In a 2022 study published by the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 86 participants with coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to three groups: high-intensity interval training, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity continuous training and Nordic walking. Following a 12-week exercise program and a subsequent 14-week observational period, the Nordic walking group demonstrated the most significant statistical and clinical improvements compared to the other groups in functional capacity, as measured by the distance participants could walk in six minutes.

The six-minute walk test serves as a predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with heart disease. Functional benefits achieved during the exercise program were sustained by the Nordic walking group throughout the end of the observational period. All three exercise programs improved the participants’ quality of life and alleviated depression symptoms. Notably, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 studies involving nearly 1,300 participants concluded that Nordic walking reduces cardiovascular risk factors in individuals over the age of 65.