Annie Draper, also known as the Nordic Walking Physio, talks to CEO Catherine Hughes about joining the INWA Science Committee and why research matters.
Why did you become involved with the INWA Science Committee?
I have always been interested in research. When I was 20, during my first degree, a BSc in Clinical Exercise Science, I carried out my own dissertation research comparing participants walking one mile with and without Nordic walking poles. I measured their heart rate and perceived exertion.
Then, at 24, during my MSc in Physiotherapy, I completed a scoping review exploring the use of Nordic walking as a rehabilitation intervention for musculoskeletal conditions.
Since qualifying as a physiotherapist and starting my own business, Nordic Walking Physio, I have had fewer opportunities to be directly involved in research. However, as physiotherapists, everything we do should be evidence-based, so it was important to me that my Nordic walking practice was grounded in the best available evidence too.
Joining the INWA Science Committee felt like the perfect opportunity to reconnect with research. I am passionate about understanding what the evidence tells us, identifying gaps, and helping translate research into something useful and accessible for instructors, healthcare professionals, and the wider Nordic walking community.
What have you been working on?
For the last 18 months, I have been living a bit of a split life. I was working two days a week in Wimbledon as a pelvic health physiotherapist while also travelling back to Norfolk to run my own business.
Since June, I have returned to Norfolk full-time to focus on growing the business, and it has been an exciting step. My goal is to combine physiotherapy with Nordic walking to help people improve their mobility, confidence and overall health.
I am incredibly passionate about showing more people how powerful Nordic walking can be, not only as a form of exercise, but as an evidence-based rehabilitation tool that can genuinely improve people’s lives.
Why should British Nordic Walking instructors be interested in research?
Research gives us confidence that what we are teaching and recommending is genuinely beneficial.
As instructors, we are often asked why Nordic walking works or who it can help. Having evidence behind our answers makes those conversations much more meaningful.
Research also helps us continue to improve. It allows us to refine our teaching, understand which techniques or programmes are most effective and demonstrate the value of Nordic walking to healthcare professionals and the public.
Ultimately, the stronger the evidence base becomes, the stronger the future of Nordic walking will be.
What excites you most about the future?
What excites me most is the research that has not been done yet.
From my own clinical practice, I have seen first-hand how Nordic walking can transform the way people move, improve their confidence and help them become more active again.
We already have some fantastic evidence, but there are still so many unanswered questions and opportunities for high-quality research.
I am excited to see the evidence base continue to grow, particularly around rehabilitation, and to be part of sharing that knowledge so more people can benefit from Nordic walking in the future.