Walking

Welcome to www.medimatters.co.uk for all your local complementary and alternative health Walking needs in Brighton, Hove and Sussex. Email info@medimatters.co.uk Call 07854 187412

What is walking?

Walking is the new ‘Smart Exercise’. It’s easy, and above all inexpensive and can be practiced by all ages and undertaken as an inexpensive family activity.
 

What benefits does walking have?

Walking conditions the heart, improves muscle tone and strength, relieves stress and can help with back pain, osteoporosis, respiratory problems, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac rehabilitation and a variety of other health problems.

Walking is a low-impact, low-stress activity and safest aerobic exercise, being non-competitive, and helps produce better posture.

Childrens’ regular walking can help to produce better reading, writing and other skills, which is highly recommended by a number of local chiropractors and osteopaths for child development.

There are organisations both nationally and locally, that promote the walking to school instead of travelling by private transport and is often promoted for a week, each year, by Local Authorities.
 

How often should I walk?

Our lifestyles have become more sedentary and we need to exercise more. To start walking, three of four times a week for just ten minutes each time is a good start.

For example

• start walking instead of taking the car to the local shop
• walk the children briskly to school and back
• get off the bus one stop early and walk
• walk during a lunch break particularly after eating
• once a week take a longer walk on a different route to maintain interest

These are small ways to start and build up an improved regular pattern of walking.
 

Where can I find information about local walks?

There are many walking websites set up by enthusiastic volunteers across the country capturing some local area of interest.

Local councils are very much promoting non-competitive exercise and most have websites promoting walks.
 

What do I need?

Check the weather forecast before leaving and make sure you are wearing the right clothing even for a short half hour walk.

Take a bottle of water with you and a mobile phone is useful. Sunglasses (or the correct glasses) for walking and a walking stick if required. Some loose change is useful too

For longer walks, take a lightweight rucksack that can be worn on the back and include other items such as an additional water proof and wind proof jacket and trousers , some healthy refreshments, a flask of warm soup or tea and any medication that you may be on. A pocket knife is always useful to help cut back any brambles in overgrown rambling areas and gloves can be an asset. During winter, it is essential to wear a warm hat covering ears, gloves and scarf.

Some walkers find pedometers useful to gauge how far they are walking and particularly if they are trying to increase their fitness levels. There are cheap versions now for sale from most sports shops.
 

Where can I get a map?

Most walkers’ websites provide some sort of local map; always take one with you including where local bus routes are in case a walker in your group tires or needs medical help, likewise, some spare change. If it is expected to rain, it may be useful to put this in a clear plastic bag to provide protection when viewing it. Some map companies now provide purposeful laminated maps. See medimatters walking map links.
 

What should I wear?

Wear a strong pair of boots preferably or shoes suitable for walking, waterproof, which do not sweat and tough soles that cannot be pierced by matter laying on the ground. Fold-up, lightweight rain and wind proof clothing is ideal to carry and to dress in a combination of natural fibre layered clothing-cotton t-shirts and wool jumpers and thick cotton jeans, for example.

For more advanced walkers and hikers, there are good stores selling merchandise online. See our walking equipment and clothing links.
 

What about gym treadmills?

When weather is cold and icy, this can be a useful walking substitute. Modern treadmills have programmed routes which will automatically vary the gradient for more challenging walking. See our walking gym treadmill links.