Get Out and Take a Walk

The Arthritis Foundation says that walking is an excellent aerobic exercise that is easy on the joints and easy to do.  There is no need to drive to the gym or to buy special equipment but rather just lace up your most supportive walking shoes and hit the road.

Experts say that walking offers several benefits such as improving the heart rate, lowing blood pressure and strengthening the heart.  A study from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston found that “women who walk 30 minutes a day may reduce their risk of stroke by 20% and by 40% when they step up their pace.”  They also found that post-menopausal women who walk one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks.    

If you have started walking as a way to help you lose weight and don’t see results yet, keep in mind that walking at a brisk pace burns approximately 200 calories in just 30 minutes, and that adds up over time.  In fact, a study out of the University of Tennessee found that women who walk had less body fat than their counterparts who didn’t walk. 

Walking especially offers benefits for seniors such as strengthening muscles, which in turn support the joints.  Stronger muscles in the legs and abdomen reduce the stress we put on our joints, and also help with balance thus reducing our risk for falls.  Movement such as walking circulates the joint fluid and sends nutrients and oxygen to the joint cartilage.

Another bonus of walking according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in New York, is it can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis.  In post-menopausal women, just 30 minutes of walking each day reduced the risk of hip fractures by 40%.  Other benefits of walking for older adults appear to include a slowing of cognitive decline, improved sleep and a longer life. 

MorningStar at Jordan embodies the finest senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We strive to provide a true home for residents amid a beautiful, serene setting by creating a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve.  Please contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living, memory care and respite care.

Source: arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/12-benefits-of-walking