"WALKING for Exercise? Is it Over-Rated? Is it Under-Respected? Is it Life-saving or DANGEROUS?...How's about ALL of these... And could you be doing it all wrong?!?
Read on to learn the benefits of walking, the dangers of doing too much of it when you have certain conditions (like stuff ending in "itis") and how to get the most from it for the rest of your "upright" life.
So there's this Guy at my local Gym asking me for advice on his painful Hip, he says he feels like he's kind of getting the proverbial "runaround" from some of the medical professionals and the insurance industry, and he doesn't know what to do, so he's asking me as a Trainer what I think, BUT what I notice right off the bat, is how he didn't ask me What NOT* to do?!? Hmmm....
As a Trainer for 40+ years, I know the tightrope walk of not being afraid to help and at the same time, staying in my own lane. The first thing I did was ask him if he'd been diagnosed. After finding out that he did not have a diagnosis yet, I told him the responsible thing was to anticipate the worst.
You see it's possible without a diagnosis it could be everything from a minor inflammation to something life-threatening like a cancer... We don't know I don't know and he says he doesn't know.
So until you know, what do you do?
I gave to him this quote;
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".
-Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It's not like I walk around with that one on business cards in my back pocket... I'd just used it in my new book "got Parkinson's?... are you sure?!?", so it was a quick mental retrieval and I thought it appropriate.
Without an accurate diagnosis, just about anything is possible, virtually nothing outside of an Alien life force was gestating in his pelvis, and as such, I told him that if he were my client (...hint, hint, If he were paying me!!!) I'd think long and hard before doing too much walking for exercise.
It's not that walking is an over-rated, basic exercise, but, is it truly a life-saver for everyone? The answer: Walking's a little bit of everything! Walking is often praised as one of the best forms of exercise—it's low-impact, accessible, and great for cardiovascular health. But could you be doing it wrong? Could it even be dangerous? If you’re dealing with conditions like arthritis, too much walking could actually aggravate your joints condition, while walking the right way can be a game-changer for your health, and if you did have a tumor in the region, dismissing your discomfort and symptoms by saying "I'll just walk it off", could be Dangerous... To say the least.
The vast majority of the time, Walking provides numerous benefits, from improving your mood and circulation to helping with weight loss and lowering your risk of heart disease. However, for people with conditions like arthritis, improper walking technique, or too much strain could worsen joint pain and inflammation. The key is to strike the right balance—using proper footwear, pacing yourself, and incorporating rest days can help you avoid injury while still reaping the rewards of this simple yet powerful exercise. And if you’re healthy, walking briskly with good posture can give your heart, lungs, and muscles the workout they need.
Ready to take the next step—literally and figuratively?
Here, below, are two links to both learn more about how to walk the right way and get the most out of this life-saving exercise, without putting yourself in, to excuse the foot/shoe pun, "sole-crushing-danger"!
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/perfecting-your-walking-technique#:~:text=Bring%20your%20gaze%20out%20about,Report%20from%20Harvard%20Medical%20School.
...and, here's how to put your best foot forward at the upcoming walk for Parkinson's - it's right around the corner (well, really it's around a beautiful neighborhood park, but, I'm inviting you to join us...)
Click here
https://secure3.convio.net/prkorg/site/TR?fr_id=5966&pg=entry