Date: September 13, 2024
One Step Closer to Good Health
When it comes to staying healthy, the options can sometimes be overwhelming: going to a gym, sticking to a specific diet, getting enough sleep, and a plethora of other tips. Although all of these options are great, there’s another easy and effective option to improve your health and fitness… increasing your daily step count!
Before beginning a new walking routine, it is always important to talk to your primary care provider or physical therapist about the appropriate steps and measures to start your new healthy habits. Although walking is an easy and simple habit to incorporate into your daily routine, going from 0 to 10,000 steps may not be your best option either!
According to Harvard’s Medical School, benefits of increasing step count include decreasing activation of weight-increasing genes, carb cravings, cancer risk, joint pain, and boosting overall immunity [1]. Other benefits include decreased risk of heart disease and stroke, increased bone strength, decreased body fat, increased overall fitness, and improved management of diabetes [2].
As an organization that strives for health and fitness, here’s some tips to begin your first steps towards incorporating walking as part of your daily life:
- Take the steps instead of the elevator
- Walk to close-by friends or places rather than driving
- Track what terrains or distances feel comfortable for you in a notebook or your phone’s notes app
- Use a Fitbit or the Health app to track your steps
- Include your family, friends, or pets on your walks
- Start slow, it’s a marathon not a race!
Any aches, pains, or problems preventing you from improving your livelihood? Stop by one of our offices in Woodbridge, Scotch Plains, or South Plainfield and begin your journey towards a healthy lifestyle!
Sources:
[1] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-surprising-benefits-of-walking
[2] https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health
Made by Jarred Tolley, PT, DPT