Benefits of Walking for Older Adults
Walking has so many benefits for older people. It can improve your health and wellbeing in many ways, and it can help you to live independently for longer.
Walking Can:
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Strengthen your muscles.
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Help keep your weight steady.
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Lower your risk of heart disease, https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/your-heart/coronary-heart-disease ), stroke https://strokefoundation.org.au/, colon cancer https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/bowel-cancer/ and diabetes. https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
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Strengthen your bones https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/your-bone-health/exercise-bone-health/ , and prevent osteoporosis, https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/osteoporosis osteoarthritis https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/osteoarthritis (regular walking could halve the number of people over 45 who fracture their hip).
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Help reduce blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure.
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Improve your balance and coordination and decrease your likelihood of falling. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/safety/lower-your-risk-falling
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Keep your joints flexible.
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Increase your self-confidence and mood, and help you feeling better all round.
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Improve your energy levels and increase your determination.
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Reduce stress https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/staying-well/keeping-active or https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/feeling-restless
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Improve your social life – walking is a great way to get out and meet people or socialise with your friends.
Being able to walk without help is one of the strongest signs of whether someone can live independently. Older people who exercise regularly are more likely to walk without assistance and do things for themselves around the house. Exercise doesn’t need to be demanding, rather be beneficial for your health. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/physical-activity-guidelines-for-older-adults
In fact, the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines recommends older people aged over 65 do 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity each day. URL: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians?utm_source=health.gov.au&utm_medium=callout-auto-custom&utm_campaign=digital_transformation
You could choose to walk at a steady pace for longer periods, or in shorter, quicker bursts, or up and down hills or stairs. It all helps. But before you begin, talk to your GP or Chemist King Pharmacists about the level of exercise that’s right for you.
