| Abstract: |
To systematically review and meta-analyse the effects of Nordic Walking in patients with respiratory diseases. Systematic review and meta-analysis. People with respiratory diseases. A systematic review from 9 databases and 1 trial register was conducted. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies involving children or adults with respiratory diseases participating in Nordic Walking were included. A qualitative synthesis was conducted. When feasible, a meta-analysis was performed. Thirteen studies were included, involving 514 participants. The qualitative synthesis suggested that Nordic Walking has benefits in exercise tolerance, physical activity, physical fitness, dyspnoea, lung function, and mood status. Meta-analysis was only possible for exercise tolerance, through a 6-minute walking test assessed in 7 studies, which indicated that Nordic Walking had similar effect to other interventions (mean difference 4. 4; 95% confidence interval -88. 1-96. 9 m, p = 0. 93). This systematic review demonstrates potential benefits of Nordic Walking in terms of exercise tolerance, physical activity, physical fitness, and dyspnoea, in people with respiratory diseases, comparable to other exercise forms. Further evidence is needed, particularly in studies analysing a structured Nordic Walking intervention with individually prescribed intensity. This study looks at the benefits of Nordic Walking for people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nordic Walking is a type of exercise that involves walking with special poles, which can help improve physical fitness. By reviewing a large number of studies, we found that Nordic Walking could improve exercise tolerance and physical activity levels, and reduce shortness of breath in people with these conditions, comparable to other types of exercise. However, while the results are promising, more research is needed, especially studies that focus on personalized Nordic Walking programmes. This research could help healthcare providers better understand how to incorporate Nordic Walking into treatments for people with respiratory diseases, improving their quality of life. |
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(Psychosocial Intervention and Functional Rehabilitation Research Group, University of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain)
