The many benefits of walking include improved heart and lung function, along with an increased ability to burn excess weight and body fat. When compared to running, walking on a flat terrain is a lower intensity activity. Unlike running, walking places a lower level of strain on your lower body joints.
Muscles Used
The movement of walking utilizes many muscle groups. As your leg extends forward, your quadriceps, which are the front of your thighs, contract to extend, or straighten your leg at the knee joint. After the front leg lands, your buttocks contract in your front leg while the back leg is brought forward. Your calves contract every time you lift your heel off of the ground or surface.
When walking uphill, your hip flexors work harder to lift your knees higher to walk on an incline. There is an increased resistance on your buttocks to bend and extend your legs to lift your body higher. When walking on a flat terrain, your body is perpendicular to the surface. When walking on an incline, your abdomen must contract to keep your body upright to avoid arching your back so that your body is not perpendicular to the inclined surface.
Effect on Joints
Walking is a low impact activity because your body is never airborne. The lower body joints, including the hips, knees and ankles do not have to absorb an increased force as your foot lands. This poses less of a risk for lower body injuries that occur from the stresses of running.
Cardiovascular Effect
According to Running Competitor Network, uphill walking uses the same motor patterns as running. This places an intensity on the cardiovascular system that is almost equivalent to running and higher than walking on a flat terrain. Increased intensities will lead to improved heart and lung functioning with a decreased risk of developing heart disease.
Calories Burned
As a weight bearing activity, your body burns calories in proportion to your body weight. A 130-lb. individual burns 224 calories per hour walking on a flat surface at 3.5 miles per hour. A 205-lb. person burns 354 calories per hour. The same 130-lb. individual burns 354 calories per hour walking uphill at the same speed, because of the increased intensity. A 205-lb. person burns 558 calories per hour walking uphill. The American Council on Exercise states that uphill walking is the best activity for burning fat and shaping muscles.
References
- ACE Fitness: American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Professionals Say Do More Squats, Lunges
- The Stretching Institute: Walking Stretches and Flexibility Exercises
- Running Competitor Network: Workout of the Week: Steep, Uphill Treadmill Walking
- Nutrition and Fitness: NutriStrategy: Calories Burned During Activity Sports and Exercise Chart
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