Supercharge your walking routine, Morganton News Herald
Pole walking can turn a simple walk around the block into an effective, cardio workout. That’s because the arm movement you use with the pols increases your heart rate without increasing your perceived rate of exertion. So you’ll get a much better workout, and burn more calories without feeling like you’re working any harder. In fact, research suggests that 30 minutes of pole walking is equal to 50 minutes of walking without poles.
Now, you might find this hard to believe, but you actually use less than 50 percent of your major muscles when you walk without poles but over 90 percent of your muscles when using poles. So it’s fair to say that waling with poles helps build muscle endurance. Your arms, shoulders, upper chest and back msucles go through a full range of motion, which stretches and lengthens muscles that are often tight from sitting at a computer; reading or watching television.
Pole walking also works wonders for balance and stability. If you practice Pilates or yoga, you can get many of the same benefits in a 30 minute pole workout. These poles will give your more assistance so you’ll feel stable and balanced, which takes stress off your lower joints. This can be especially helpful if you suffer from knee or leg discomfort
by Dr. Charles Suber
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