A better walking cadence can help you live longer!

[marylander1940]

I am am amazed it took a study to tell us something so obvious!

 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/health/walking-cadence-mobility-speed-endurance-wellness

Edited July 17 by marylander1940

[samhexum]

If only...

[+ sniper]

It is not clear at all from the article whether they had people walk faster and observed a change/improvement, or measured everyone's walking cadence and observed their condition. The latter would just me a "water is wet" study.

Edited July 18 by sniper

[+ SirBillybob]

The high-intensity subgroup intervention to walk faster than at baseline casual speed (as fast as you can safely) during three 30-minute sessions weekly over 4 months yielded walking a longer 6-minute distance at follow-up compared to the control subgroup that continuously followed the prompt to walk at casual speed (relaxed and comfortable pace) with equivalency in sessions. Functional improvement was solely measured by that final distance outcome. As the 6-minute walking distance test was not accompanied by instructions to maximize cadence and distance, as it is self-paced and known to reflect sub-maximal functional capacity, it may be that the difference in distance, on average about 20% farther distance for the high-intensity subjects, was at least partly as a result of having simply been primed to increase cadence and not necessarily having attaining some overall functioning improvement by having been trained to walk faster. None of a few other functional capacity measures taken at baseline were compared at follow up. 

Edited July 18 by SirBillybob

[+ PhileasFogg]

I’m with @sniper   But I will also note that a few years ago, I needed to relearn how to walk. My form placed by body weight on the opposite side as my weight bearing leg causing pain in my knees that was starting to impact my distance and speed.

what I do now I call my “Stayin’ Alive Walk” because, when exaggerated, it resembles John Travolta. 

[+ SirBillybob]

Correction 4th last line: … not necessarily having attained …

[samhexum]

On 7/17/2025 at 10:46 AM, marylander1940 said:

I am amazed it took a study to tell us something so obvious!

https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/health/walking-cadence-mobility-speed-endurance-wellness

 

On 7/17/2025 at 11:06 PM, sniper said:

It is not clear at all from the article whether they had people walk faster and observed a change/improvement, or measured everyone's walking cadence and observed their condition. The latter would just be a "water is wet" study.

 

On 7/22/2025 at 6:11 AM, PhileasFogg said:

I’m with @sniper   But I will also note that a few years ago, I needed to relearn how to walk. My form placed by body weight on the opposite side as my weight bearing leg causing pain in my knees that was starting to impact my distance and speed.

what I do now I call my “Stayin’ Alive Walk” because, when exaggerated, it resembles John Travolta. 

Yes, There Is a Right Way to Walk—Here's How, According to Physiotherapists

APPLE.NEWS

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Good posture while walking supports joint health, balance, and efficient movement, while slouching can...

 

[+ poolboy48220]

I finally mapped out my walks with my dog, they're just short of a mile but it's a very leisurely pace, and we stop for breaks a few times during the walk, especially during the summer. 

[+ Charlie]

I explained the study to my dog, but he still stops constantly to sniff interesting (to him) smells along the route, so my walks are not very effective as exercise for either of us.

[BSR]

2 hours ago, poolboy48220 said:

I finally mapped out my walks with my dog, they're just short of a mile but it's a very leisurely pace, and we stop for breaks a few times during the walk, especially during the summer. 

I saw a report of why Danes tend to stay so slim and suffer fewer heart attacks.  It’s part of their culture and lifestyle to take long slow walks, often for hours a day.  They may not cover much distance and they take plenty of rest breaks, but at least they’re active whereas we Americans spend comparable hours seated, often eating out of boredom.  I’m guessing Danes don’t carry backpacks filled with chips & soda for their strolls.

If you simply don’t have time to walk for hours, I read a good tip:  constantly break up your walk with bursts of high intensity.  For example, quicken your pace for a minute until you’re huffing and puffing, sprint up a hill, or find steps to climb up & down before resuming your normal pace.  The problem with walking at the same pace all the time is your body becomes very efficient and starts burning fewer calories to do the same workout.