Walking for longevity and well-being

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Extract from the article: Hippocrates said: « Walking is the best medicine for man ». Many people believe that walking is a lazy person's activity: False. Walking improves general health and longevity. Walkers live longer and have a better quality

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Hippocrates said: « Walking is the best medicine for man ». Many people believe that walking is a lazy person's activity: False. Walking improves general health and longevity.  Walkers live longer and have a better quality of life. Regular walking has a direct effect on the circulatory and locomotor systems. Walking reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, joint pain including arthritis, degeneration of joint cartilage, osteoporosis, excessive fragility of the skeleton due to a reduction in bone mass, and back pain. Walking helps to maintain a stable weight, lower blood pressure and glucose levels, improve mood, memory and reduce stress. It is a beneficial form of exercise for people of all ages and in all cases. The minimum recommended is 30 minutes of moderate intensity walking, five days a week.

The WHO recommends taking at least 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy. Slow walking corresponds to 80 steps/minute over a period of 1.5 to 2 hours. We can talk without difficulty. This speed of movement is that of everyday life, the intensity is less. Normal and dynamic walking, 100 steps/minute, is equivalent to 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes. You may be slightly out of breath and start to sweat. You can also do brisk walking at a speed of 120 steps/minute, which is 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. Also, very fast walking: the intensity is high with a speed of 140 steps/minute, i.e. 50 minutes. This intensity is difficult to maintain over time. This type of walking is best suited to people who are already trained and in good physical condition. Always avoid being sedentary. At the weekend, for example, walk for even 2 hours.

Elom AKAKPO