Is It Better To Walk Outdoors Or Use A Treadmill?

Is It Better To Walk Outdoors Or Use A Treadmill?

Because time is often a factor, many people wonder what cardiovascular activity they have will give the best result for your efforts. Walking outdoors is available to most people, although the weather and place can be limiting factors in some situations. Using a treadmill requires that you have it at home or go to a gym. Although both options offer the benefits of walking, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Function

Walking is an accessible activity: most people can do it. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes, therefore, walking is an attractive option to exercise for many people. Walking is also a low impact activity for the joints of your legs and hips. Those who are new to exercise often are attracted to the walk because it does not require additional skills or special equipment and those who recover from an injury can also reap the benefits of exercise with less risk of re-injury.

Benefits of walking outdoors

Walking outdoors is a simple exercise. Most people have access to the sidewalks and streets of their town, making walking outdoors convenient and economical. A vigorous 30-minute walk in a great way to improve cardiovascular fitness. The variety of terrain in combination with proprioception (the neuromuscular response to external stimuli) also keeps the brain occupied in the exercise. Because the surface on which you walk, whether it is concrete, grass or dirt, is slightly modified in each step, the person must assimilate these changes to maintain a comfortable pace.

Benefits of using a treadmill

A treadmill offers a variety of options to simulate an outdoor walk when the latter is not possible. Treadmills allow you to customize your exercises: you can walk on a treadmill even if you live in a relatively flat area. Having access to a treadmill, whether at home or at a gym, allows you to walk when extreme weather forbids you to do it outside; In addition, the surface of a treadmill is softer than the sidewalk concrete or asphalt, reducing the impact on your joints.

Comparison

The surface of a treadmill is uniform, making it a good choice for injured people or those who start exercising. On the other hand, a treadmill does not involve the sensory receptors of the brain completely as when walking outdoors; You must also overcome the air resistance when you walk outside. A high-quality treadmill has a high price and membership of a gym may not be within reach of some people, while walking outdoors costs nothing and all that is required is that you find a safe place to walk.For most people, however, the most important factor when choosing an exercise is perseverance; To reap the benefits of an exercise, whether walking outdoors or on a treadmill, the key is to do it vigorously and constantly.

Considerations

The type of walking exercise that you choose should be based on your own fitness goals. If you start to exercise walking as a form of training for an outdoor event, such as hiking, you should try to simulate the conditions of such an event as much as possible. In the same way, walking outdoors is best for those who do not have access to a treadmill or enjoy the changes of weather and natural terrain, while the use of a treadmill allows to customize and trace the progress in training.

Video Tutorial: Treadmill VS Outdoor Running: Which is Better?.

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