The Effect of Nordic Walking on Knee-Ankle Coordination Patterns in the Sagittal Plane: A Vector Coding Analysis

These findings suggest that, in novice adults, the quasi-quadrupedal gait strategy of Nordic walking alters interjoint coordination strategies in a manner distinct from normal walking, particularly by increasing ankle plantarflexion-dominant and decreasing knee flexion-dominant coordination patterns. This study is the first to apply vector coding to Nordic walking, providing new biomechanical insights into its coordination characteristics and potential rehabilitation relevance in novice Nordic walkers.