Winksmith Nordic Walking

03/05/2025

(Sánchez‐Lastra et al., 2019)European Journal of Cancer Care, 28(6). The aim of this systematic review was to identify the quality of the studies that have analysed theeffects of Nordic Walking (NW…

03/05/2025

The effect of a 10-week Nordic Walking (NW) training program on the level of Growth Hormone (GH) and Luteinising Hormone (LH) in postmenopausal women.
(Hagner-Derengowska et al., 2015)
Climacteric, 18:6, 835-840. https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2015.1058354

Thirty-two postmenopausal women (50-68 years) participated in a 10-week residential rehabilitation program in which Nordic Walking was prescribed. The body mass index (BMI) classified the participants as either overweight or obese. Six NW sessions of 60 minutes duration (3 x supervised and 3 x unsupervised) per week were completed. The rehabilitation centre provided all meals to a total caloric value of 1500 kcals per day.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the NW training on resting (GH) and (LH) blood concentrations and their relationships to the values of inflammatory, metabolic, and muscle injury parameters. The following physiological markers were recorded: GH, LH, C-reactive protein, total cholesterol, low density (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides, albumin, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase.

Results indicated:
• Significant increases in blood concentrations of GH and HDL cholesterol
(= positive improvements)

Decreases in:
• LH values
• total cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol
• triglycerides
• creatine kinase
• lactate dehydrogenase
• C-reactive protein
• body mass index
(= positive improvements)

Growth Hormone, Luteinising Hormone and menopause (inserted Information):
Growth hormone (GH) affects menopause as it is closely associated to oestrogen levels—the more oestrogen a woman has, the more GH she produces. Consequently, at the onset of menopause (@ 50 years) oestrogen levels decline significantly. Correspondently, GH also declines leading to significant changes in body composition, i.e., reduced muscle mass, increased adiposity, reduced energy, decline in sexual activity, and increased cardiovascular risk. The ovaries produce fewer eggs, and, in response, the body produces more luteinising hormone (LH) in an attempt to stimulate the ovaries to produce more oestrogen. Therefore, consistently higher levels of luteinising hormone (LH) are a key sign of pending menopause.

DISCUSSION:
The aging process in women, especially after menopause is linked to changes in blood hormone levels, metabolic disturbances, frailty, and a progressive decrease in physical activity. The cheapest and effective preventive strategy against progression of disturbances in women’s physical functioning includes changes in their lifestyle, especially regular exercise, which may improve muscular function and anabolic processes. The majority of postmenopausal women have problems with overweight and obesity which disrupts the physiological and pathological factors that regulate, suppress or stimulate growth hormone (GH) release in response to chronic exercise.

CONCLUSIONS:
This Nordic Walking study led to favourable hormonal responses, as well as improvement in muscle integrity and nutritional and inflammatory states, suggesting taxing, regular exercise is an effective tool in protecting against menopause-related catabolic processes leading to frailty and loss of independence.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 10-week Nordic walking training program on resting growth hormone (GH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) blood concentrations and their r...

21/12/2024

As we approach the holiday season, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all my walkers and subscribers who joined my classes throughout the year.

It has been amazing to share some walks with you.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season season filled with warmth and joy.

03/12/2024

The breeze was very welcome on our Nordic walk tonight on the West Rail Trail. Six kilometres in very good company.

14/09/2024

Nordic Walking represents a simple, safe, rapid, inexpensive and effective form of treatment.
However, this type of exercise, as a therapy for pain reduction, is apparently unknown to most health professionals.
Read the research review:

02/04/2024

Taking advantage of the last days of daylight savings.

07/03/2023

The perfect evening for a Nordic walk.

31/01/2023

The rain held up for tonight's Nordic Walk. On this picture you can see that the water at the Pukete boat ramp is definitely higher than usual.

17/01/2023

Te Ohomauri O Matariki Nordic Walk tonight. A beautiful evening.

24/12/2022

Happy Holidays. Enjoy this time of the year to reconnect. The Pōhutukawa tree is known as New Zealand’s Christmas tree, as it blooms all summer long with gorgeous red flowers.

15/11/2022

Tonight's Nordic walk starting at Fairfield esplanade.

11/10/2022

Tuesday evening Nordic Walk in Flagstaff.