The remark, “Walking can be as good as a workout, if not better, than running” was made by Dr Matt Tanneberg, a sports Chiropractor and ‘Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist’ in Phoenix, Arizona (Steinhilber, 2018). This paper advances the argument that walking is the best form of exercise. Exercise such as running has a better workout because it involves recruitment of large muscle, exerts greater forces, and requires high motility. However, the eventual health benefits from the two may have little difference, especially for people who are not professional athletes whose only concern is a healthy body.
The argument is founded on the flexibility of walking as a form of exercise. Walking can be undertaken in diverse settings, at home when performing chores, when going to the stores, while covering short distances to work, or even as a fitness program. In addition, it can be recommended for all people who can walk and can be timed to coincide with their preferences. According to Focht (2013), 10-minute and 30-minute walk yield similar benefits in sedentary overweight women, but subjects reported intention to participate in brief walks in the future. The preference is associated with the less demanding nature of walking as a form of exercise.
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The American Heart Foundation (2017) observed that walking is the simplest way to be healthy. A significant number of people find walking to be safe, easy to adhere to and has low or no cost because it does not require special skills or equipment. However, walking has substantial benefits including reducing the risk of cardiovascular and lifestyle diseases, improving stamina, preventing weight gain, boosting bone density and strength, and improving mental and emotional well-being (American Heart Association, 2018; Roe & Aspinall, 2011; Sung & Lee, 2010). Therefore, I agree that walking is the best alternative for people whose fitness and health results plateau after exercises such as running because it is flexible and allows one to switch their exercise routines.
References
American Heart Foundation. (2017). Why is walking the most popular form of exercise? Retrieved from https://healthyforgood.heart.org/move-more/articles/why-is-walking-the-most-popular-form-of-exercise.
Focht, B. C. (2013). Affective responses to 10-minute and 30-minute walks in sedentary, overweight women: Relationships with theory-based correlates of walking for exercise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise , 14 (5), 759-766.
Roe, J., & Aspinall, P. (2011). The restorative benefits of walking in urban and rural settings in adults with good and poor mental health. Health & place , 17 (1), 103-113.
Steinhilber, B. (2018). Why walking is the most underrated form of exercise. Better. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/why-walking-most-underrated-form-exercise-ncna797271.
Sung, K. W., & Lee, J. H. (2010). The effects of regular walking exercise on metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk factors, and depressive symptoms in the elderly with diabetic mellitus. Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing , 21 (4), 409-418.
