Health Tip: Walking for Exercise
January 14, 2009, 1:32 PM ET
• 1 min read
Jan. 15, 2008 -- (HealthDay News) -- Walking is a great form of daily exercise that can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help you establish a walking-for-exercise program:
Walk at your usual pace for about 5 minutes, then speed it up to where your heart is beating faster and you feel like you're inhaling more air. Keep up this pace for about 15 minutes. Repeat your warm-up pace for another 5 minutes.Always wear a sturdy pair of shoes that offer good arch and heel support.While you walk, remember to let your arms swing.Walk with your toes pointing straight ahead.Flatten your abdomen, straighten your back, and walk with your head up.Walk briskly and with long strides, but make sure your stride is comfortable.