Tom Rutlin - a pioneer of Nordic walking, which in 1988 he termed "Exerstriding" advocates the straight arm "plant" technique.
Re-posted with some clarifications
Tom Rutlin - a pioneer of Nordic walking, which in 1988 he termed "Exerstriding" advocates the straight arm "plant" technique.
David Downer - links to whose websites you can find right here at Nordic Walking US, also uses and teaches this method.
The International Nordic Walking Association (INWA) in turn teaches the bent arm plant. I have heard that Exel reps (INWA=Exel) have been teaching the straight arm technique, although their website still shows graphics, where models have radically bent arms...
There was I time, when I too used and advocated the bent arm plant, but not anymore.
Let me try to explain why I believe that a modified straight-arm technique works best.
Straight arm technique definitely works. All you have to do is look at Tom Rutlin and at David Downer. Both are obviously in excellent shape - gained, I am told - largely by Nordic walking.
It bears to note that Tom Rutlin's Exerstrider poles do not have straps, so it is quite understandable, why the technique advocated by him is a bit different. Both David Downer and I, in turn do emphasize the efficient use of straps.
Needless to say, the straight arm plant works remarkably well. In my opinion though, the arm should NOT BE RIGID, in order to make the whole movement more effective and dynamic.
Why? Because it provides additional, serious amount of exercise to the back muscles and the triceps - the group of muscles, populating the back of everyone's arm.
Considering the fact that the triceps constitutes about 2/3 of the mass of the upper arm and the biceps only 1/3, giving the triceps a proper workout is a truly important issue. Isn't it?
As Bob Moon, a registered user of this site says, and I quote:"By keeping the arm straight or slightly bent the primary driver becomes the shoulder joint, which involves far more muscle groups( including the triceps) causing greater caloric burn and much better overall strength conditioning by involving the larger muscles of the back and other stabilizing muscles. "
I couldn't agree more. Being a kayaker, I realize that most of of the paddling power is generated by keeping the arms relatively (but not completely) straight and using the large muscles of the back and shoulders for propulsion, rather than just the arms.
I also advocate following the arm push backwards way beyond your body line. In effect, you should push the pole all the way back, as far as you can comfortably go.
This exercises the back muscles to an amazing degree, providing a nice workout to the entire back area, from the waist, all the way up to the neck. It also increases torso rotation, not only providing additional exercise to the waist area, but helping resolve exisiting lower back problems and avoiding new ones.
The entire, long arm movement, with hand and grips starting the stroke well forward, all the way to the rear is also a very efficient one as far as propulsion is concerned. The pole tips in most cases should stay behind your heels at all times.
You can make it as effortless and smooth as you want and still get a good, thorough workout. For those already in pretty good shape it should provide a better than ever exercise, incorporating a good stretching motion of most of the torso and the very important triceps muscle.
http://www.nordicwalkingus.com/article.php/StraightArmorBentArmTechnique