You Need Not Climb Mountains, But Hills, for Health
By Tom Herrin
It doesn’t take great and wonderful things to try to improve health, simply some well-planned small things. Most people have things available to them that will allow them to get more work for less if they just spend a little time mapping it out. For those who struggle to find 30 or 45 minutes to exercise, they may find walking up hills to be a far more productive use of their time. That workout, walking up hills, may yield the same results in much less time than while walking on flat land. For most people, it isn’t really that hard to find those hills. They do not have to be elaborate, just basic.
It Can Work a Lot of Muscles
When people walk up hills, their body must make some adjustments to become more efficient in the work it performs. Most people are familiar with doing so. It can make those muscles work together to move the body, as well as work against gravity to climb. When every step requires effort to lift the body toward a higher level, the walk is somewhat more careful as the steps are performing multiple tasks.
It Is a Low-Impact Exercise
Walking is generally a low-impact exercise. As people walk up hills, they can have the benefit of this along with less stress on the joints and other susceptible parts of the body. At the same time, they are stretching those muscles that move them along. Many people fail to stretch well anyway. Walking up hills can help do this in a small way. Such activity without risking the damage that may be done with so many other more aggressive exercises is a real plus and well worth the effort.
It May Protect Against Bone Density Issues
A lot of us are concerned about maintaining proper bone density. There are a variety of problems that people experience that are related to this. Whether it is from poor diet, lack of exercise, genetics, or whatever, the problems are very real and affect many people. Women seem especially likely to have problems with osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercises are known to help provide protection against this. If this is a concern of yours, or if you are just trying to get in more of a workout in less time, try walking up hills.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Kennesaw, Ga.