Nordic walking groups for people with Parkinson's disease in community rehabilitation settings: what is needed?

McCracken, Sarah, Logan, Pip, Allen, Frances, Sears, Catherine and Booth, Vicky 2025. Nordic walking groups for people with Parkinson's disease in community rehabilitation settings: what is needed? British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 21 (1) , pp. 30-38. 10.12968/bjnn.2024.0033

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Abstract

Background: Nordic walking is an enhanced walking technique that uses special poles to provide a whole-body workout. It has shown promising outcomes for people with Parkinson's disease. Scant literature exists on the best way to deliver Nordic walking groups for people with Parkinson's disease in a community rehabilitation setting. Aims: To establish the characteristics and core components needed to implement Nordic walking for people with Parkinson's disease in a community rehabilitation setting. Methods: Two focus groups were held with people with Parkinson's disease who had participated in a Nordic walking intervention study for 8 weeks. A third focus group was held for instructors. Data was analysed using thematic analysis and reviewed by a second researcher. Michie's behaviour change wheel was used as a theoretical framework for organising the themes and creating recommendations. Results: In all, 11 people with Parkinson's (6 men, 5 women), 3 Nordic walking instructors (1 man, 2 women) and 1 Nordic walking leader took part in the focus groups. From these, 6 main themes emerged: people with Parkinson's disease perceived and experienced Nordic walking as physically and psychologically beneficial; participants appreciated the social aspect of exercising with motivated peers; practical components increased engagement; the skills of the Nordic walking instructor were considered essential; safety risk assessments for the venue, group and individuals were important; Partnerships with other organisations were needed. Conclusions: It is feasible, beneficial and safe to deliver rehabilitative Nordic walking groups for people with Parkinson's disease in a community setting, provided that core components and facilitators are addressed.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Medicine
Publisher:	MA Healthcare
ISSN:	1747-0307
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	20 March 2025
Date of Acceptance:	26 July 2024
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2025 15:07
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177032

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