Just an hour of weekly walking works wonders: Study
Just one hour a week of brisk walking staves-off disability in older adults with arthritis pain, or aching or stiffness in a knee, hip, ankle or foot, a recent study suggests. "This is less than 10 minutes a day for people to maintain their independence. It's very doable. This minimum threshold may motivate inactive older adults to begin their path toward a physically active lifestyle with the wide rang e of health benefits promoted by physical activity," said Dorothy Dunlop, lead author of the study. The study was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. An estimated 14 million older adults in the U.S. have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of osteoarthritis. Approximately two in five people with osteoarthritis -- most of whom have it in their lower joints -- develop disability limitations. The study found an hour of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity allowed older adults to maintain their ability ...