The benefits of walking are well known and holidays can be the ideal time to combine rest and movement. But when is walking really beneficial? Dr. Piero Volpi, Head of Knee Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology at Humanitas, spoke about this topic in an interview with Repubblica.
“It is important to walk at a fast pace, which does not mean running but does not mean stopping continuously. In order to benefit from walking, in fact, it must be repetitive and sustained, because only in this way is the process of muscle stimulation of physical exercise effective,” emphasizes Dr. Volpi.
Walking is good for everyone and it is ideal for the elderly and for those who suffer from excess weight: “Walking is tiring only to a limited extent, it does not stress the ankles and joints and sets both the musculoskeletal, the respiratory and cardiovascular system in motion “.
When and where to walk
“In the city, as in the mountains and the sea, there is always a route that we can use. If you stay in the city, it is preferable to walk in a park, away from polluted areas and on soft ground.
Especially in summer it is better to walk early in the morning or late in the afternoon, but it is not advisable to prefer walking after dinner and this applies to all physical activities, which should not be carried out too close to the time of sleep,” recommends Dr. Volpi.
For people choosing to take walks at sea, particularly suitable for walks is the beach, especially on the shore, because they develop the proprioception of the foot and strengthen the muscles of the ankle.
Walking with the right shoes
“In any case, an often forgotten and fundamental feature is that we need shoes suitable for walking; flip flops and sandals, the ideal are shoes that cover the whole foot, sports or leisure, but soft and cushioned because the stress of the ground can adversely affect the knees and hips,” concluded Dr. Volpi.
