5 Benefits of Walking for Seniors

Being active and keeping ourselves moving is important at any stage of life. We all need to be active and get our heart rates up. One great (and often underestimated way) for seniors to get their exercise each day is simply by walking. That's right, just walking daily and getting in your steps can make a huge difference in a senior's health.

Walking is a great way for seniors to begin a new exercise regime. While you should always talk with your doctor about starting a new exercise regimen, including walking. A great activity for many seniors would be a calming walk through Erie, Mill Creek, Fairview, and the surrounding areas.

Aim For 30 Minute of Walking Per Day: 

Working your way up to walking for 30 minutes at a moderate to brisk pace is a great goal to set. You can start with 5 minutes of walking and build up by adding 2-3 minutes to your walk each week until you feel comfortable. If 30 minutes is too long, you can take 2 15-minute walks or 3 10-minute walks as well. 

Assuming that you can walk for 30 minutes each day, the following are 5 benefits of walking for seniors in Erie and how it can help improve their health in the long-term:'

Walking Helps Control Your Weight: 

Those who walked the recommended 10,000 steps a day or up to 15,000 steps a day were believed to have a lower BMI than their sedentary counterparts. Maintaining a healthy weight as you enter your older years lowers your risk of other potential health issues. You can break your steps up to several walks throughout the day, because the more you walk the better chance you have of maintaining a healthy weight.

Walking Lowers Your Risk of Having  Many Health Conditions:

Walking is a great exercise regime for seniors that can help lower your risk of a variety of different health conditions including heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and diabetes. Some people find that walking also helps reduce blood pressure in people who are experiencing hypertension. Avoiding these health conditions can help you live a long life in the greater Erie area.

Walking Improves Your Bone Health:

Weight-bearing exercises like walking can help seniors maintain bone health as they age. Avoiding osteoporosis and osteoarthritis is believed to help reduce the chance of hip fractures in those aged 45 and older by up to 50%. 

Walking Helps Keep You Independent:

The ability to walk steadily is one of the most important factors in remaining independent. Walking helps strengthen your muscles so that you are less likely to suffer from a fall. It also improves your flexibility keeping you limber as you move through your Erie home.

Remember to Take a Friend/Companion/Caregiver:

Remember to take a caregiver, companion, or friend on your walks with you. If you are going any distance from home. If you were to fall or need assistance while you are walking, you will have someone there to help you.

If there is no one available to go with you, be sure to take a fully-charged cell phone with you at all times. It's always better to take your phone with you on any walk or new exercise regime.

Finally:

Exercise doesn't have to be extremely strenuous to make it beneficial to your long term health. Aim for about 150 minutes (5 30-minute sessions per week) to begin to see health benefits! So get up, get out, get moving, and enjoy the fresh air while you get your walking in each day!