Health Benefits of Walking

Aug 17, 2011 by guestcontributor

Walking is one form of exercise that is best health enthusiasts who can no longer jog or run. Although jogging and running are the more popular forms of exercise for busy individuals, walking alone has offers a variety of health benefits that anyone can enjoy. Don’t ever think that walking is a lazy man’s exercise and you can’t benefit anything from it. In reality, walking basically offers more or less the same benefits as jogging and running. Walking though is the preferred choice because it is natural and doesn’t need any preparations. Here are some health benefits that health enthusiasts can achieve when they are walking.

Walking Exercise

Walking develops the leg muscles. Mountain climbers or hikers often exercise by several miles of walking in preparation for a major climb. They do this so that by the time when the climb proper arrives, their muscles have been prepared for the strenuous activity. Second, it keeps cardiovascular diseases away. Studies have shown that health enthusiasts that walk for at least thirty minutes are less prone to heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Blood test in Knoxville show that cholesterol level in those who walk everyday is less compared to those who rarely walk. It is therefore a must for corporate individuals.

Third benefit of walking is to improve sleep. Sometimes people complain of irregular sleeping pattern. This has become a problem for them because their sleeping pattern has already affected their work as well as their relationships with other people. Another study showed that after walking for at least thirty minutes, their sleeping patterns improved and one month later, sleep pattern has become normal. Walking after all is a simple yet effective way of exercise. So what are you waiting for? Grab your shoes now and go outside and enjoy all the benefits of walking.

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Online Walking Resources

Aug 8, 2010 by admin

The sport of race walking is getting popular day by day and more and more people want to know about the sport, as it has good effects on health. If you want to get information about the race walking, you have many options. There are many race walking clubs, working in many areas for the promotion of the sport. There are many online resources, which can provide all the necessary information about race walking. Following are the few of them.Walking

  • Organizations: Many organizations are working to support race walking. Many clubs are members of these organizations. These associations are creating awareness about the advantages of race walking and helping in training. Some are nonprofit organizations, raising funds for athletes and sports. Some others focus on youth programs and provide professional coaching to the young walkers.  Australian Federation of Race Walking Clubs , English Racewalking Association, EroFit, North American Racewalking Foundation, and Racewalking International, Inc. (RWI) are few examples.
  • Individuals: Some individuals, having interest in race walking and past race walkers are also working to support the game. Moreover, some currents walkers have also launched their websites for the advertisement of their upcoming events. Denis Langlois website, Nathan Deakes, and Tim Seaman are the individuals, providing information regarding race walking on the web.
  • Commercial: Information about the sport is also available on commercial level. Healthwalk to Fitness, RunnersGear.com, SnowPack Cold Therapy, Treadmill Reviews and Ratings are few commercial websites, which provide all the information on the sport of race walking.
  • Others: Other than above-mentioned resources, a large number of magazines, online books and clubs’ websites are also available on the internet. Race Walking Record Magazine, Big AOL Racewalking Link List, The Web Walker, Walking.About.com, are the few examples. They provide the list of upcoming race walking events, biography of players and everthing related to the sport.

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Injuries and Treatments in Race Walking

Jun 27, 2010 by admin

Though race walking is healthy game and people prefer it than simple running. Race walking is a big source of burning calories and reducing fats in your body. But you know, where there is a game, chances are there to get injuries. Similarly race walking is not free from injuries but treatment is also there to cure these injuries. So advantages of race walking are more than disadvantages.Injuries

Records show that ratio to get injuries by race walking players is less and these injuries are also not traumatic. Some common injuries which players suffer are as below.

Injuries:

Tendonitis of knees, Planter fasciitis or feet injury and shin splints are the most common race walking injuries. These all injuries related to muscles, which can be in either form like pulling of muscles, hardening of muscles, and low flexibility in muscles by keeping them long time straightened. As we know tendons are those fibrous materials which connect muscles with bones. Tendonitis of knees in race walking occur due to decreasing flexibility of knees as race walkers have to move forward by contracting muscles. With the time being the muscles lose stretch ability and become tightened. This tightened muscle pulls at the origin point and also in insertion point. One more disadvantage of tight muscle is that friction increases in joints and bursa is irritated. Bursa is a fluid-filled sac in joints.

Treatments:

Normally common treatment in case of injury or pain is rest and aspirin, but these are not treatment of injuries. These precautions just kill the symptoms for some time not cause. For tight muscles isolation of muscles is necessary. To release strain on tendons is stretching of muscles. Another treatment to avoid hardening of muscles is to stretch them gently after exercise. However, if you are suffering from muscle hardness, then digging a scar in tissue is the only treatment which can cure your injury.

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Walking Clubs in America

Jun 19, 2010 by admin

Clubs are forums for interaction, where people meet and share their experiences. Many walking clubs are working in America, joining a walking club can serve many purposes. Like…

  • Meeting Other walking partners
  • Selection of walking routes
  • Sharing tips and walking techniques
  • Participation in walking trips and other social events

There are many types of walking clubs, here are few categories.

AVA/IVV clubs: The members of these clubs do not participate in competitions. They participate in 10K walking events. The IVV isRace Walking the largest club organization in the world, the number of member clubs is in thousands, including USA and Canada.

Race walk clubs: If you want to participate in race walk competitions, these clubs will help you to learn all the rules and regulations for the game and you can learn all necessary techniques as well. They arrange fun races for their members, so that they can practice for the rules of game.

Mall walking clubs: These clubs are organized by individuals, so you can look around and fins any such club. The aim of such clubs is to emphasis on walking as an indoor exercise.

Running Clubs: Many running clubs give memberships to walkers as well. They also organize events for walkers.  Road Runners Club of America is the good example of such clubs.

If are trying to find a walking club, but do not know how to locate one, you can try other options. Firstly, Medical centers have the information regarding walking clubs. Secondly, you can also ask local shoes stores, they have brochures and publications of walking and running clubs. Thirdly, Health clubs also sponsor many walking groups. If you participate in local events, like charity walks, you can find walking clubs. Moreover, you can also search the internet for the walking clubs in your area.

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Training For a Race

Jun 7, 2010 by admin

Both beginners and experienced race walkers have a complaint that there is no proper training guidance for them. As if they ask 100 coaches for training strategies, they receive 100 different answers. Therefore, there is so much confusion about exact training schedule and strategies. They do not know what to do for getting training of race walking.

One thing should be in your mind that before getting training, you should decide your goal. This means you should do training forRace Walkingrace walking with the clear aim of winning the upcoming race. You may think that what this is. Everyone who wants to learn a game gets training with the aim of winning. That’s true, but I add this thing because you should well aware about upcoming event that that what kind of strategies should be adapt to win this time and what were the short comings of loser in previous race. Now here are some tips regarding training for race walking.

  1. Warm up and Cool down: First warm up with 5-10 minutes of easy walking, after those 5-10 minutes of stretching arms and legs, finally 5 minutes of cool down with easy walking.
  2. Head and Posture: Adjust the head and eye level by looking straight and relax your neck and jaw.
  3. Arms movement: Arms should remain at 85-90 degree at the elbows always. Arm’s movement should be loosely and vigorously as well and pivoting from the shoulders.
  4. Body Posture: You should keep the body position straight and in relaxing position means walk tall and straight.
  5. Feet movement: The most important thing in race walking is your feet position. Your front foot must in contact with the ground before your rear foot loose the contact from ground.
  6. Legs and Stride: There should be no bend in advancing leg means knee of this leg should be straight.

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