The benefits of walking are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control, The World Health Organization, and The American Heart Association just to name a few. It’s the easiest way to get active and/or stay active while amassing a ton of benefits. Here are some of the most meaningful benefits:
- Harvard Health research found that 1 hour of brisk walking per day reduced the expression of the genes related to obesity, by half!
- Walking can reduce arthritis related joint pain to the knees and hips. Your joints take in nutrients and push out waste from the cyclical loading and unloading that takes place while walking. This has been shown to not only reduce the pain of arthritic joints but reduce the rate of progression.
- Walking is an easy activity to start – it’s free and most of us have been doing it since we were 1.
- A walking routine is often the impetus and motivator for other forms of physical activity. Consider it the gateway exercise.
- Improved cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular health
- Here’s a real winner from the World Health Organization: “…lower rates of all causes of mortality, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon and breast cancer, and depression.”
Step by step, we get ahead in our journey to improving and maintaining physical health. Start your walking routine today. Many of the benefits are seen starting with as little 150 minutes of brisk walking per week.
If pain is keeping you from walking and staying active, we’re here to help!
References:
“Physical Activity and Adults.” WHO, World Health Organization, www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_adults/en/.
Publishing, Harvard Health. “5 surprising benefits of walking.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking.
“Walking.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 May 2016, www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/walking/index.htm.
