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Walking is generally recommended to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and the resulting health problems associated with it. Although walking has many benefits and keeps you active, relying on it alone may not provide the full benefits. Strong bone health is one area that walking does not adequately cover or fully support. Addressing this gap, Dr. Jeremy London, a US-based cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of clinical experience, shared in a Nov. 26 post that even though walking improves mood, lowers blood pressure and has positive metabolic effects, it does not provide complete, holistic support for building bone density. This is especially more relevant for women.
Also read: Study found that just 15 minutes of brisk walking a day can reduce the risk of death by 20%
“Walking doesn’t strengthen bones, and middle-aged women especially need to hear this. Walking is incredible.” It improves your mood, it lowers blood pressure, supports metabolic health, and of course, helps maintain weight,” Dr. London outlined the benefits of walking regularly. In fact, he even recommends it to his patients to maintain good health and weight.
But what’s the catch? Why walking is not enough for you to lift heavy objects? Dr. London elaborates, “Walking alone does not significantly increase bone mineral density. It simply does not create enough of a mechanical load to tell your bones that we need to be stronger.” This means that bones need strength to support density.
Why is there a problem with age?
Dr. London emphasized that bone health becomes more fragile with age, especially in women.
“As we age, especially as estrogen declines, the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis increases. So if you’re relying on walking alone to protect your bones, you’re missing out on the most powerful tool we have,” Dr. London said.
Relying on walking alone to stay active and fit after midlife puts you at risk for weak bones after midlife.
Why does resistance training help?
Dr London suggests resistance training and calls it a ‘game changer’ for keeping bones strong. When you challenge your muscles and skeleton with weight-bearing exercises, you can stimulate bone growth while reducing the risk of fractures.
He went into more detail about the different intensities, “Moderate to high intensity resistance training provides the biggest, biggest improvements in hip and spine bone density. Those are the areas that matter most when we think about falls, independence, and aging, so keep moving.” Focusing on these exercises can significantly improve hip and spine bone density.
“It’s fantastic for your overall health,” Dr. London added. But if you care about maintaining bone strength, balance and independence over the long term, get under the barbell, lift weights, train your muscles and your bones.,
So yes, walking can have wide-ranging health benefits, supporting cardiovascular health, metabolism, mood and stamina, but it may fall short when it comes to bone-strengthening quality, which is where resistance training comes in. Walking isn’t bad, but it shouldn’t be completely relied upon.
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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