Jogging vs Walking
From the tracks of an indoor gymnasium to the neighborhood routes, more and more people are exercising their whole bodies by using their legs, and two simple movements.
Walking is one of the most basic and essential parts of motion, making it an easy choice for healthy living. Similar to a brisk walk, jogging is a lighter version of running that can be used as a cardio workout. But which one should you choose for your fitness needs?
The Power and Speed of Walking
The first thing to do when selecting an exercise is to set your goals. What is it that you would like to accomplish with your workouts? For most people, the main considerations are cardiovascular health and weight management. Walking and jogging can be effective with both of these areas, but there are some big differences in how they work.
Walking is definitely more flexible because of the various options and variations. Regular walking at a moderate pace is a great exercise for any age and virtually any physical fitness level. When the strides are intensified and arms are swinging, this is called power walking, and is excellent for burning calories, as well as keeping the heart, lungs, and cardiovascular system healthy.
Adding an even quicker pace turns power walking into speed walking, and rivals joggers in terms of speed and weight loss. In fact, if you observe some tracks or walking routes, you might notice that the speed walkers are actually breezing right by the joggers. This depends on a person’s individual ability and stride.
Injuries and Joint Problems
The benefit of walking is its versatility. No matter what age or physical condition a person is in, they can most likely walk at some pace. In addition, less stress and impact protects your body from injuries. A concern of jogging is that it places more weight and strain on joints.
If a person already has a pre-existing problem with their joints, or if they are recovering from a ligament injury, walking would definitely be a better choice. Arthritis patients walk to keep the flexibility in their bones and joints because there is almost no pressure applied to them. Simply put, not everyone can jog, but just about everyone can walk.
Jogging vs. Walking
Your situation will influence the exercises you decide to include in your fitness routine. If you are trying to lose weight quickly, jogging, running, or power/speed walking can be considered. However, if your goal is to focus on long-term weight loss and management, walking has an advantage. It is also the better choice for people that are overweight because it reduces the risk of injury or sprains.
The recommended amount of physical activity is 30 minutes a day for at least four to five days each week. Intensity levels will range and are updated as you become more comfortable with a particular program. Based on the current information available, walking seems to be the most recommended cardio exercise in general.
So, if you are looking for a safer, incredibly effective way to stay healthy, go for a walk at your own pace, and see how it works for you.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612[5]
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676[6]
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00009[7]
References^
HelloLife™ Home (www.hellolife.net)^ Explore Home (www.hellolife.net)^ View all posts in Exercise (www.hellolife.net)^ Jogging vs Walking (www.hellolife.net)^ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/walking/HQ01612 (www.mayoclinic.com)^ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676 (www.mayoclinic.com)^ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00009 (www.mayoclinic.com)
