For strength, longevity and happiness, take a hike!

It’s been many years since I did any hiking. I’m talking decades here. But with the summer coming, I’m considering buying a pair of boots and hitting the trail. Not a difficult trail, mind you. After all these years, I consider myself a novice hiker again, and I wouldn’t tackle any strenuous climbing or anything I couldn’t complete in a few hours at a leisurely pace. But you might be thinking, why not just go for a good, long walk around the neighborhood? Wouldn’t that be just as good, and less hazardous? Less hazardous, perhaps. Hiking or walking an uneven trail does leave you open to rolled or twisted ankles and sprained knees, not to mention bug bites. Nevertheless, I’m headed for some local trails this weekend. Let me tell you why. The difference between walking and hiking At first glance, walking and hiking may not seem that different. But the benefits of hiking are indeed different from the benefits of a stroll around the block. Daniel Ferris is a professor of engineering and biomechanics at the University of Florida. He explains that walking on flat terrain allows the body to just keep going without a lot of effort. He compares this to the perpetual swinging of a pendulum. Ferris found that when you walk on uneven terrain, be it a nature trail or a sandy beach, your body uses 28 percent more energy. Not only that, but his 2013 study at the University of Michigan uncovered benefits that go beyond calorie burning. When you navigate uneven ground, “you’re turning on and strengthening a lot of muscles in your hips and knees and ankles that you don’t normally use.” Using and building those neglected muscles can improve your balance and stability, which can protect you from falls. Also, using […]

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