Brisk Walking Vs Reverse Walking: Which is Better for Health?

Brisk Walking Vs Reverse Walking Which is Better for Health
| Oct 04, 2024
Health Tips

When you think about getting hold of the fitness journey, achieving success hinges on understanding your fitness goals and physical condition. Recognising that what works for one person may not work for another is crucial due to our unique body types and needs.

Are you seeking to maintain an active lifestyle, shed excess weight, or improve cardiovascular health? Your fitness goals will play a significant role in shaping your exercise routine. Equally important is taking stock of your physical state, considering age, overall fitness level, and any existing health conditions. These elements will help you tailor your workout regimen to suit your needs best. While high-impact exercises are commonly favoured, both brisk walking and reverse walking offer notable health benefits, provided they align with your objectives. However, when comparing the two, one must ponder the superior option for walking – brisk walking or reverse walking.

What is Brisk Walking?

Engaging in a moderately intense cardiovascular workout can be as simple as brisk walking. Unlike a stroll, brisk walking involves picking up the pace, essentially walking fast enough to elevate your heart rate without sprinting. This form of exercise is widely accessible and doesn’t require any special equipment, making it suitable for individuals of all fitness levels. Typically, walking at three to four miles per hour is considered brisk. Let’s delve into the six key benefits of this widely popular exercise routine.

6 Significant Benefits of Brisk Walking

These advantages show that introducing brisk walking to your daily routine might significantly positively affect your physical and mental health, possibly extending your life and enhancing your quality of life overall.

1. Cardiovascular Health

Brisk walking is a fantastic way to benefit your heart health. This form of exercise can effectively lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your body while simultaneously increasing good cholesterol (HDL) levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes. Moreover, making brisk walking a regular part of your routine can strengthen your heart muscles, improving circulation throughout your body. This improved circulation is vital for maintaining overall cardiovascular health.

2. Weight Management

Walking is an excellent option for individuals aiming to lose weight. It can help burn calories at a moderate rate, typically around 300 calories per hour, though this can vary based on pace and body weight. This low-impact exercise is gentle on the joints, ensuring it suits individuals of various ages and body types.

3. Mental Health Boost

Brisk walking triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers. This can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, promoting feelings of relaxation and happiness. Walking outdoors offers the additional benefit of connecting with nature, which has been shown to lower stress levels and contribute to overall mental well-being.

4. Improved Digestion

Brisk walking can positively impact digestion by promoting rhythmic contractions in the intestines. This helps to accelerate the digestion process and maintain regular bowel movements. This natural remedy can help prevent bloating and discomfort, relieving digestive issues.

5. Strengthened Muscles and Bones

Brisk walking may appear as a leisurely activity, but it provides a comprehensive workout for various muscle groups, such as those in the legs, core, and back. Over time, it also contributes to improved bone density, which is particularly beneficial for reducing the risk of osteoporosis, especially among older adults.

6. Better Sleep

Struggling to fall asleep at night or dealing with poor-quality sleep can be frustrating and impact your overall well-being. Engaging in brisk walking as part of your daily routine improves sleep quality. The rise in body temperature during the walk, followed by a gradual cooldown period afterwards, can help promote more profound and restful sleep. Additionally, walking has been found to reduce stress levels, which can often be a significant factor in preventing a person from getting the rest they need.

What is Reverse Walking?

Walking in reverse, also known as backward walking, involves moving in the opposite direction to traditional forward walking. Despite initially feeling unusual, this exercise provides distinct advantages that complement regular forward walking. The act of walking in reverse requires the body to utilise muscles differently, resulting in a range of health benefits. Both forms of exercise offer unique benefits when comparing brisk walking and reverse walking.

Brisk walking is excellent for improving cardiovascular health and endurance, while reverse walking strengthens balance and coordination and engages different muscle groups, making both valuable additions to any fitness routine.

6 Major Benefits of Reverse Walking

These benefits demonstrate that incorporating reverse walking into one’s routine can positively impact physical and cognitive health, potentially contributing to better overall well-being and longevity.

1. Improved Balance and Coordination

Walking backwards is a unique way to engage muscles that may not be typically used during forward walking. This action can help to enhance balance and coordination by challenging the body differently. When you walk backwards, you must focus more on each step, thus improving your proprioception, which is your body’s ability to sense its position in space. This exercise can be particularly beneficial for refining motor skills due to the increased concentration and engagement of different muscle groups.

2. Engages Different Muscle Groups

When walking forward, the focus is primarily on the muscles at the front of the body, such as the quadriceps. Reverse walking, however, more effectively engages the calf muscles, hamstrings, and glutes. This balanced engagement of muscles can lead to improved muscle strength and reduce the risk of injury caused by the overuse of certain muscle groups.

3. Lower Impact on Joints

When experiencing knee pain or joint issues, reverse walking can be a beneficial alternative to brisk walking. Walking backwards reduces the load on your knees and hips, placing less strain on these joints. As a result, reverse walking can serve as a helpful rehabilitation exercise for recovering from joint injuries.

4. Cognitive Benefits

Reverse walking presents a unique cognitive challenge for the brain. This activity enhances memory and cognitive function by demanding heightened focus and coordination. Research indicates that physical exercises involving mental engagement can help delay cognitive decline, highlighting reverse walking as an excellent option for maintaining brain health.

5. Cardiovascular Health

Reverse walking, like brisk walking, is an effective way to improve heart health. It works by increasing your heart rate and enhancing circulation throughout the body. Even though it may feel less intense, reverse walking at a moderate pace can provide the same cardiovascular benefits as brisk walking. Due to the increased demand for exercise, reverse walking may offer these benefits in a shorter duration. This makes it an excellent alternative for individuals looking to achieve cardiovascular improvements time-efficiently.

6. Increased Caloric Burn

Did you know reverse walking can be more effective for burning calories than brisk walking? This is because reverse walking is more challenging and engages additional muscles, requiring your body to work harder, resulting in higher caloric expenditure. When combined with a proper diet and regular exercise routine, reverse walking can efficiently boost weight loss.

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In the Game of Brisk Walking Vs Reverse Walking, Who Wins?

Consider your fitness goals and physical condition when deciding between brisk and reverse walking. Brisk walking could be the perfect choice to enhance cardiovascular health, manage weight, and engage in simple yet effective exercise. This form of exercise is uncomplicated, accessible to nearly everyone, and provides a wide range of health benefits without requiring special training.

On the other hand, reverse walking offers unique advantages, particularly for individuals aiming to improve their balance and coordination and target muscles that are often underutilised. It can be a valuable addition to any workout routine and is especially beneficial for those recovering from injuries or seeking to push themselves in new ways. Both forms of walking, brisk and reverse walking, have their benefits individually, so it’s essential to consider your specific fitness objectives when choosing the right one.

  • Which is Safer?

Regarding safety, brisk walking offers the advantage of being a more familiar and less risky activity, particularly for individuals walking outside on uneven surfaces. On the other hand, reverse walking demands increased attention to one’s surroundings, and if not executed properly, it could result in falls or injuries. Therefore, if you’re new to reverse walking, you should begin practising in a secure and controlled environment, such as a gym or a designated walking track.

  • Which Burns More Calories?

Add reverse walking to your workout routine if you want to burn more calories. Studies show that walking backwards requires more energy than regular brisk walking, which can help you burn more calories. Incorporating either of these exercises into your routine can significantly impact reaching your weight loss goals over time.

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Conclusion

On evaluating the merits of brisk and reverse walking, it is evident that both forms of exercise offer valuable health benefits, each with unique advantages. However, after careful consideration of the extensive scientific evidence and overall health impact, it becomes apparent that brisk walking is the superior choice for most individuals looking to enhance their health through walking. It is important to note that integrating both brisk and reverse walking into a diverse exercise routine can be highly beneficial.

This balanced combination can offer a comprehensive workout that challenges the body in diverse ways, sustains interest, and helps prevent workout plateaus. Ultimately, consistent practice and duration are the keys to maximising the health benefits of brisk walking versus reverse walking. Whether individuals opt for a specific walking style or choose to alternate between them, the pivotal factor is to find a form of physical activity that is enjoyable and sustainable, thereby promoting regular participation in walking for health.

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Frequently Asked Question

  1. Is reverse walking good for health?

    Reverse walking can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, allowing your heart and lungs to provide oxygen more efficiently during exercise.

  2. What is the healthiest way to walk?

    The correct posture is to stand as tall as possible, with your feet pointing forward, abs engaged, back straight, neck in line with your shoulders, head up, and eyes gazing about 10 feet ahead of you.

  3. Which type of walking is good for health?

    A brisk walk of 10 minutes daily has many health benefits. It counts towards 150 minutes of weekly exercise, per the guidelines recommended for physical activity for adults aged 19 to 64.

  4. Is walking backwards better than walking forward?

    The process of walking backwards has been shown to enhance quadriceps strength more than forward walking.

  5. Is brisk walking better than normal walking?

    According to the study, easy or casual walking was defined as less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometres) per hour. An average pace was defined as 2 to 3 miles (3.2 to 4.8 kilometres) per hour, and a “fairly brisk” pace was defined as 3 to 4 miles (4.8 to 6.4 kilometres) per hour.

  6. Is backwards walking well for the knees?

    Walking in reverse can enhance walking patterns, speed, and stability, particularly following an injury or illness. A study revealed that when used alongside other physical therapy approaches, retrograde walking enhanced walking patterns and muscle strength in individuals with knee osteoarthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and ACL injuries.

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