Does Nordic walking enhance quality-of-life more than retro walking in young-old adults? A comparative study

Background Nordic walking (NW) and retro walking (RW) are innovative exercise interventions that target balance, mobility, and functional health in aging populations. While both methods have been shown to enhance physical performance, their comparative impact on quality of life (QoL) in young-old individuals remains underexplored. Given the growing need for effective aging strategies, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of NW and RW on QoL over a 4-week intervention, providing insights into their potential for promoting healthy aging. Methods A comparative study was conducted with 40 participants (aged 60–75 years), who were assigned to either the NW or RW group. The intervention consisted of supervised 3 days/week sessions for 4 weeks. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess eight QoL domains: Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role-Emotional, and Mental Health. Within-group and between-group analyses were performed using appropriate statistical tests. Results Both NW and RW groups demonstrated statistically significant within-group improvements across all SF-36 domains ( p < 0.05). However, between-group comparisons did not show statistically significant differences. Clinically, NW showed consistently higher mean differences in Physical Functioning (7.9), Role-Physical (5.8), Pain (6.91), General Health (4.09), Vitality (6.87), Social Functioning (3.24), Role-Emotional (5.4), and Mental Health (8.24), indicating a greater functional impact compared to RW. Conclusion Both interventions effectively improved QoL, but NW exhibited superior clinical benefits across multiple domains. These findings suggest that NW may be more effective for promoting holistic well-being in young-old adults.