Nordic Walking shown to cut depression symptoms by up to 70% in five weeks

A recent French study found that Nordic walking, a low‑impact aerobic activity using specially designed poles, can markedly reduce depressive symptoms. After five weeks of twice‑weekly sessions, about 70% of participants with severe depression reported a significant drop in symptom severity.

In a randomized trial of 64 adults with moderate to severe depression, 48 participants followed the Nordic‑walking program for ten weeks while 16 served as a non‑exercise control. The walking group showed a rapid and pronounced improvement, with remission rates rising from 35% to 53.6% by the end of the study and no reported injuries. Researchers highlighted the method’s safety, low cost, and ease of implementation, suggesting it could become a routine component of mental‑health care.

The findings have prompted mental‑health educators in Germany and public‑health advocates in Poland to promote physical‑activity‑based prevention programs and to integrate mental‑health literacy into schools and community settings.