Local trainer explains potential benefits of Nordic walking

Learning a new skill is all about putting one foot in front of the other. That's especially true for community members who have been learning about the practice of Nordic walking from one local expert.

Enrico "Sam" DiGiammarino Jr. invested two years into perfecting his posture and technique to become a certified instructor with the American Nordic Walking Association.

"I could not find an instructor in Sarasota when I first learned about it," he said. "The closest was in Atlanta."

Photo by Dana Kampa

Nordic walking focuses on distributing weight more evenly through the body rather than relying entirely on the legs for propulsion.

Participants use two walking poles, similar to those used for skiing, to push off the ground with their upper body in tandem with each step.

The basic elements are fairly straightforward. Ideally, a walker should keep their head up, eyes forward, shoulders back and down, arm opposite the frontmost striding foot, and foot rolling forward from heel to toe.

DiGiammarino Jr. said it does take some practice to get every motion to flow together. To get certified, he sent in video recordings of his gait to the Los Angeles-based organization, which experts there would review, critique and use to help him refine his walk.

"They would tell me to straighten my elbow or not bend my wrist," he said.

As he learned more about the craft, he said he grew fascinated with studies of how Nordic walking may help those living with conditions like Parkinson's disease. The National Institutes of Health published a 2022 study stating this form of exercise may be a beneficial treatment.

"A very good friend of ours lost her husband to Parkinson's," he said. "If I had known about this years earlier, maybe I could have offered some help. But there's no going backward in time."

Nordic walking does require specific equipment, but he noted that relatively affordable options are available through online vendors. Two components that are important to look for are:

First, wrist straps to avoid grip fatigue, ideally worn through a glove-style attachment so the walker pushes down through the heel of the hand to propel forward, and

Second, base attachments that are suitable for the type of terrain a person may be hiking across.

As for the potential benefits over typical walking, they can vary from person to person. The Cleveland Clinic says Nordic walking can provide a better full-body workout, tapping into more than 90% of the body's muscles. 

DiGiammarino Jr. said many of his students appreciate the improvements they see in mobility and balance.

"You're very focused on being upright," he said.

Among its other benefits, Nordic walking can be done almost anywhere once someone has the basics down.