Brisk walking is a low-cost activity that has potential benefits on overall health. It makes a more active lifestyle and has a lower risk of injury as compared to other forms of activities.
What is brisk walking, and how to measure it?
Brisk walking is an example of a moderate intensity aerobic activity. Moderate intensity aerobic activity is anything that makes a person sweat and raises their heart rate to the extent that they can talk but not sing. A person should aim to do a brisk walk every day for at least 30 minutes.
What are the health benefits of brisk walking?
A person may experience many health benefits. These benefits include reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer, such as bladder, breast, and colon cancer. Brisk walking may benefit brain health too.
Can brisk walking help with weight loss?
According to a report, 10 minutes of brisk walking a day could help inactive people reach a moderate weight. The report defines “inactive” as engaging in less than 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. However, brisk walking alone will not aid weight loss. If a person aims to lose weight, they also need to consider their daily dietary choices and calorie intake. To maintain a moderate weight, a person needs to balance the foods they eat with the amount of physical activity they undertake each day.
Good technique for brisk walking
Below are some tips for good walking form:
- Start slowly in order to warm up, and cool down by slowing down.
- Keep the shoulders down and relaxed while maintaining a long, straight back.
- Roll the foot forward from the heel.
- Gradually start including hills into your walking routes.
Summary
Brisk walking and other types of moderate aerobic exercise have many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Brisk walking is a low-cost and easy way for people to increase their physical activity levels. If a person wants to build up to a more vigorous aerobic activity, they can start with a brisk walk before they move on to jogging.