May is Keep Walking Month

May is Keep on walking month and to help support this worthy campaign here is afew tips on the benefits of walking and how to take care of your feet from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

Benefits of walking

Walking is good for you and if done at a brisk pace for regular exercise it helps condition your body and improve overall cardiovascular health in the same way running and jogging do. But compared with running, walking carries a significantly lower risk of injury, it reduces stress and gives you time to clear your head and aids better sleep. It’s the nearest thing to ‘perfect’ exercise in terms of a safe, all-round workout and it doesn’t cost a penny or need any special equipment.

• If you walk an extra 20 minutes a day, you’ll burn off more than 3kg of body fat a year
• A single step uses up to 200 muscles. So you’re not only doing a little cardio, but toning your muscles too and walking is easy on your joints
• Walking can halve your risk of coronary heart disease and help prevent some cancers and cuts cholesterol
• Walking may slow cognitive decline in adults, especially those with existing conditions such as Alzheimer’s
• Walking can help to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes
• Walking requires little equipment can be done almost anywhere and is entirely free.
• Can help improve circulation in your feet by stimulating the development of tiny new blood vessels.

What walking does to your feet?In an average lifetime, we walk about 100,000 miles, which is tough on our feet. Yet our bodies were designed for moving not standing still, so walking is good exercise. Walking helps the muscles and ligaments in our feet to work more efficiently, and helps keep them supple and flexible.

So even if you have to sit around a lot in your job or at home, try to get up and walk briskly for at least 30 minutes every day. Feet are adaptable and can withstand a lot of pressure before they rebel. If you walk a lot, it’s important to wear the right footwear which won’t damage your feet.

Foot Problems associated with walking

• Blisters
• Heel pain - Plantar fasciitis
• Morton’s neuroma

How a podiatrist can help you keep walking

Consult your podiatrist if you start to develop pain when walking, or consider a visit before embarking on your new walking programme.

The main role of the podiatrist is to help you maintain normal mobility and function in the feet and lower limbs. Podiatrists provide the basis for the ideal walking style and posture and identify any  conditions that may require further referral and management. They also relieve pain, treat infections and skin, nail, soft tissue and connective tissue problems. This is achieved in conjunction with other members of a multi-disciplinary health care team. Podiatrists can also give expert advice on footwear, so it is a good idea to take your walking  shoes with you when you go to  see your podiatrist.


For more information visit:
http://www.scpod.org/foot-health/keep-on-walking/