Walking has become an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, but do you know how to make it even more effective? Milanese scientists have made an interesting discovery that could change our approach to daily walks and help achieve better results in burning calories, Ukr.Media reports.
Walking with short breaks requires more energy than continuous walking, according to a study by scientists from the University of Milan.
Italian researchers have proposed a new way to burn more calories. Instead of walking continuously from start to finish, it is recommended to take frequent breaks. As part of the study, volunteers performed exercises on simulators that simulate climbing stairs and walking on a treadmill. The tests included short periods of activity – from 10 seconds to 4 minutes. During each experiment, scientists recorded the amount of oxygen consumed and calculated the metabolic needs for different types of walking.
As a result of tests, it was found that for short but active walks, 20-60% more oxygen is needed. This is due to the fact that in the initial stages of movement the body consumes a lot of energy to warm up the muscles. Every time you need to pick up speed again after a break, more calories are spent.
The results of the experiment could prove useful not only for healthy people, but also for the development of rehabilitation programs for patients with limited mobility. For example, it could be useful for people with obesity or those recovering from a stroke.
In one hour of walking, you can burn at least 200 kcal (3-5 kcal/min). This is an average figure, as the exact values are individual and depend on height and weight, as well as walking pace.
Moreover, walking is a complete form of cardio. It also involves the major muscle groups: the muscles of the back, abdomen, and thighs.
Джерело: ukr.media
