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The effects of nordic walking on the cardiovascular risk factors in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 22 RCTs (n=1,271, mean age ~62 years) reports Nordic walking versus controls significantly improved body composition (BMI, weight, waist, body fat %), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂-related SMD +0.60), systolic BP (−2.92 mmHg), and several lipid markers, with authors highlighting diastolic BP improvements among participants older than 65.
Design
- Corpus: 22 RCTs, n = 1,271 (mean age 62.21 ± 7.76 y)
- Intervention: Nordic walking vs mixed control conditions
- Model: random-effects MD or SMD with 95% CI
- Search: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science through Nov 2023
Pooled risk-factor signals (abstract)
- BMI: MD −0.67 (95% CI −1.12 to −0.23; p < 0.01)
- Body weight: MD −1.76 kg (95% CI −2.91 to −0.62; p < 0.01)
- Waist circumference: MD −2.21 cm (95% CI −4.13 to −0.29; p = 0.02)
- Body fat %: MD −1.54% (95% CI −2.61 to −0.48; p < 0.01)
- VO₂max-related endpoint: SMD +0.60 (95% CI 0.11 to 1.10; p < 0.01)
- SBP: MD −2.92 mmHg (95% CI −5.23 to −0.60; p < 0.01)
- LDL / TC / TG: small negative SMDs (p < 0.05 in abstract)
- DBP in >65 y subgroup: MD −5.26 mmHg (95% CI −8.79 to −1.72; p < 0.01)
Evidence hygiene
Controls differed across trials (sedentary vs walking without poles, etc.)—read forest plots before treating pooled MDs as pole-specific magic independent of volume and intensity.
Publication
Liu J, Kim JH. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2025 Feb;129:105663. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105663. Epub 2024 Oct 18. PMID 39476525.
Outcomes
- Systolic Blood Pressure-2.92mmHg (Millimetres of Mercury)
- Effect Size (Cohen's d / SMD)0.6d (Cohen's d)