The influence of Nordic walking on isokinetic trunk muscle endurance and sagittal spinal curvatures in women after breast cancer treatment

Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the impact of Nordic walking on sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer treatment. Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 19) that performed Nordic walking, and a control group (n = 20) that performed a standard general exercise programme. Body posture was assessed using Moiré photogrammetry and trunk muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance at 120°/s was measured isokinetically. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA with Scheffe post hoc tests and Pearson's r correlation tests. Women who completed the 8-week Nordic walking intervention showed significant improvements in average power and total work, irrespective of the muscle group investigated. Following training intervention, greater strength-velocity values of the trunk muscles were observed in the study group, compared to the control group. There were no significant changes in postural parameters or correlations for trunk muscle function within spinal curvatures before and after the training interventions. When both groups were combined (Nordic walking + general exercises), functional-postural correlations following the intervention showed a statistically significant tendency toward a reduced inclination of the upper thoracic section, together with increases in all tested functional parameters of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles (r = -0.33 to r = -0.37). Compared to a standard general exercise programme, Nordic walking is more effective for improving isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer. However, no changes in sagittal spinal curvatures were observed after the 8-week Nordic walking and general exercise interventions.