Did you know that employee’s who go for a daily walk before or during the work day will be generally healthier, more productive and creative, and less likely to be absent or take sick-leave?
The Benefits of Regular Walking
Although the copious benefits of exercise have long been established, it may not be as widely recognised that even just performing regular brisk walking can provide significant benefits for an individual’s all round health and wellbeing.
The Benefits of Regular Walking
Although the copious benefits of exercise have long been established, it may not be as widely recognised that even just performing regular brisk walking can provide significant benefits for an individual’s all round health and wellbeing.
Some of the benefits of regular walking include:
- Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness
- Improved and manageable blood pressure, cholesterol profile and blood sugar levels
- Improved and manageable joint and muscular pain or stiffness
- Strengthened bones and improved balance
- Increased muscle strength and endurance
- Reduced body fat.
A recent analysis of multiple studies that used a walking only intervention for a minimum of four weeks has shown an average relative reduction of 1.4% in body weight, 1.9% in percent body fat and a reduction of 0.8% in systolic and 2.0% in diastolic blood pressure from baseline measurements. It was also found that walking at a self-selected brisk pace can result in modest but meaningful increases in cardio respiratory fitness.
Primarily, these benefits will help manage or reduce the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Research has also shown how exercise reduces the risk of some cancers, particularly bowel, with some suggestive evidence linking it to a reduced risk of lung, ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancers.
Regular walking can also help to relieve feelings of depression or anxiety, aid in better sleep and better digestion. And aside from the long list of health benefits, it is better for our environment by reducing car dependency. This makes it better for our hip pocket too!
Primarily, these benefits will help manage or reduce the risk of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Research has also shown how exercise reduces the risk of some cancers, particularly bowel, with some suggestive evidence linking it to a reduced risk of lung, ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancers.
Regular walking can also help to relieve feelings of depression or anxiety, aid in better sleep and better digestion. And aside from the long list of health benefits, it is better for our environment by reducing car dependency. This makes it better for our hip pocket too!
How to Build More Walking into your Workday…
Its easy! If you live too far from work to walk the whole way, get off public transport a few stops earlier or park the car at least one kilometre away and walk the rest of the way. Or get out for a half-hour walk at lunchtime and if you have a sedentary office job, get up and walk around at least once every hour and where possible use the stairs.
Its easy! If you live too far from work to walk the whole way, get off public transport a few stops earlier or park the car at least one kilometre away and walk the rest of the way. Or get out for a half-hour walk at lunchtime and if you have a sedentary office job, get up and walk around at least once every hour and where possible use the stairs.
Evidence shows that there are both direct and immediate benefits for organisations and employees to support and promote walking regularly.
Therefore, to help build regular walking into your daily routine, Wesley Corporate Health encourages businesses and employees to get involved in the Cancer Council National Walk to Work Day, on Friday 16 September 2011 and register their organisations as a Walking Workplace.
The primary aim for the annual event, now in its 13th year, is to get Australia walking again, but participants are also encouraged to become a fund-raiser for the Cancer Council in the fight against cancer. Please visit www.walk.com.au/ for more information on how to get your business involved in supporting this event.
The primary aim for the annual event, now in its 13th year, is to get Australia walking again, but participants are also encouraged to become a fund-raiser for the Cancer Council in the fight against cancer. Please visit www.walk.com.au/ for more information on how to get your business involved in supporting this event.
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