Acute neuromuscular responses in upper limb after nordic walking training in youth females

Abstract

Nordic walking (NW) is a practical form of healthy exercise. Up to now, few studies have been conducted on the non-clinical population and few has analysed muscular response after NW training. This study aimed to assess mechanical and neuromuscular changes of deltoideus and triceps brachii following short-term NW training. Twentyfour healthy and physically active females were randomly assigned to an NW group (NWG) (n =12) or control group (n =12). Training was carried out over a 6-week period (18 sessions) on a treadmill (4.5 km/h; 2% gradient). Mechanical and neuromuscular response was measured before and after training. Tensiomyography was used to assess maximum radial displacement, time contraction, time delay, sustain time, and half-relaxation time of deltoideus and triceps brachii. Heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to control the training intensity. Mixed-design factorial analysis of variance (mixed ANOVA) was used to detect changes in the mechanical and neuromuscular characteristics after a NW training. During NW training, HR (115.83 bpm), 36.7% of HR reserve and RPE (10.25) corresponding to light intensity were reported. After the training period, only a moderate increase (6.25%, p =0.02; η2=0.06) in delay time for the triceps brachii were reported. A short-term and low to moderate intensity training conducted with a specific NW technique was not sufficient to modify the triceps brachii and deltoideus mechanical-neuromuscular response in healthy and young females.