Walking is a fantastic form of exercise. It is accessible, low-impact, great for your heart, supports mental wellbeing and can help you stay active throughout life.
But is Walking enough?
Not really…
If your goal is to improve cardiovascular fitness and general health, regular walking is an excellent place to start. Current Australian guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, and brisk walking can certainly contribute to this.
However, if your goals include building muscle, improving bone density, reducing the risk of falls, or maintaining independence as you age, walking alone isn’t enough.
As we get older, we naturally lose muscle mass and strength. Without resistance training, this process accelerates, making everyday activities more difficult and increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Similarly, bones need higher-impact or resistance-based loading to maintain their strength. Something that walking cannot provide.
A well-rounded exercise routine should include a mixture of both aerobic and strength based exercises. As well as some balance training and stretching and mobility.
Where Does an Exercise Physiologist Help?
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist can help you build on your exercise routine by creating a personalised exercise program that targets your specific goals. Whether you want to improve strength, manage a chronic condition, reduce pain, or stay independent as you age, your program will be tailored to your current fitness level and progressed safely over time.
The Bottom Line
Walking is a fantastic form of exercise and should be part of almost everyone’s routine—but it shouldn’t be the only form of exercise. Adding strength, balance and mobility training creates a more complete program that supports your health, helps prevent injury, and keeps you doing the things you love for longer.
Call us at 07 3132 0898 (Shailer Park) or 07 3822 8879 (Birkdale) for a 1-on-1 Exercise Physiology Session.
References
https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/preventive-activities-in-general-practice/metabolic/physical-activity
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/physical-activity/latest-release
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