Walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the world.<\/p>\n
It costs nothing, can be done almost anywhere and provides numerous health benefits.<\/p>\n
It decreases the risk and severity of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and dementia and improves mental health, sleep, longevity and healthy ageing.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, there are benefits to walking no matter what level you\u2019re at, said Dr Amanda Paluch, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences in Amherst.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because any type of physical activity is better than none, she said. Walking accrues benefits even at its most basic level \u2013 just putting one foot in front of the other and taking a turn around the block, through a park or down a trail.<\/p>\n
Research suggests the more steps a person takes each day, the more they reduce their risk of dying.<\/p>\n
But that benefit maxes out between 6,000 and 8,000 steps per day for people 60 and older and between 8,000 and 10,000 steps per day for people younger than 60.<\/p>\n
For those who are willing and able, there are ways to boost the benefits of walking to reap even more rewards. Here are five simple ways to put more pep in your steps.<\/p>\n
1. Nordic walk your way to even greater fitness<\/strong><\/p>\n Nordic walking, created to help cross-country skiers train during the summer, involves using a set of specially designed poles that work the muscles in the upper body.<\/p>\n It has been shown to improve resting heart rate and blood pressure and to increase exercise capacity and oxygen consumption. It\u2019s increasingly being suggested as a form of physical activity for older adults.<\/p>\n \u201cThe science behind it is really compelling,\u201d said Dr Keith Diaz, an associate professor at Columbia University\u2019s department of medicine in New York City. \u201cYou\u2019re engaging more muscles and using your upper body more, so you burn more calories than you do with regular walking.\u201d<\/p>\n The added intensity is what benefits cardiovascular health, Paluch said. \u201cYou\u2019re getting your heart rate up and also improving your fitness level, which is a major contributor to good health.\u201d<\/p>\n And, she said, \u201cit can be fun just to have a different way of walking.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Add lunges<\/strong><\/p>\n Research suggests adding lunges can also add health benefits to a walk.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we age, physical function can decline,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cLunge-walking is a means to maintain, if not improve, muscular function.\u201d<\/p>\n Lunges can be incorporated into all or even just some of the steps on a walk or can be done in intervals along the way, Paluch said. Other simple exercises, such as calf lifts, can be added as well as other muscle-strengthening or resistance training activities. These can be done before, during or after the walk.<\/p>\n \u201cWork some muscles that are different from the ones you use walking,\u201d Paluch said. \u201cIncluding even 10 minutes of resistance either before or after a walk can maximise the health benefits of walking.<\/p>\n \u201cThese can be simple activities that don\u2019t take a lot of time, such as situps or modified pushups.\u201d<\/p>\n Lifting light weights can also add benefits, but Paluch does not recommend carrying weights while walking because it can increase the risk of injury. \u201cUsing weights right after a walk would be best, because the body is already warmed up,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Federal physical activity guidelines recommend adults, especially those 65 and older who are able, incorporate muscle- strengthening activities into their physical activity regimen at least two days a week.<\/p>\n This is in addition to at least 150 minutes per week of moderately intense physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity.<\/p>\n 3. Pick up the pace<\/strong><\/p>\n While walking at any pace is better than not walking at all, studies show a faster, more intense pace incurs greater cardiorespiratory fitness and bigger reductions in the risk for chronic illness.<\/p>\n \u201cYour pace is a big determinant of how much health benefit you get from walking,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cIncreasing pace is the easiest thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Picking up speed can be done in intervals of any duration, Paluch said. \u201cEven doing it for just 20 seconds can have a benefit. It really depends on where you\u2019re starting from.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Put the phone away<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be on a screen while you\u2019re walking,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cThat may sound obvious, but in this day and age, that\u2019s what a lot of people do.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a break from digital devices allows people to de-stress more fully, he said. \u201cWalking itself is a mood booster, but is the mood boost because you\u2019re walking or because you took a screen break?\u201d<\/p>\n Whether walking alone in silence or talking with a friend, there are mental health gains to taking a break from screens and other work activities, Paluch said. \u201cTaking time for ourselves can be incredibly beneficial.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Bring a friend<\/strong><\/p>\n Research shows group outdoor health walks can mitigate social isolation and improve social well-being, which has been linked to better health and longevity. Studies have also found strong social connections help people get and stay active.<\/p>\n \u201cWalking can be a social activity as well as a physical activity,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n And while there\u2019s no evidence that talking while walking burns extra calories, he said, there is research suggesting that genuine laughter increases energy expenditure by up to 20%.<\/p>\n You may not see the pounds falling off, Diaz said, but you\u2019ll have a good time trying. \u2013 By LAURA WILLIAMSON\/American Heart Association News\/Tribune News Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Walking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the world. 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