Which is the best exercise, Walking, Cycling, or Running?
If you’re thinking of starting an exercise program, you may be wondering should I be walking, cycling or running? If you’re trying to lose weight in a hurry… you might only be thinking about what burns the most calories the fastest. However, there are a few other things to consider as well. If you are new to exercise, you may be prone to injury. Let’s look at a few common exercise modes… walking, cycling, and running, and what you should know about each.
Walking For Exercise
Of the three types of exercise were discussing today, walking burns the least amount of calories. At a four mph pace, you can expect to burn around 360 calories an hour. So, you will burn calories, but not in a spectacular way. Walking is an excellent way to break into exercise if you’re new. You also can train for running by starting with a slower pace and lower impact.
It’s so easy to get started walking. Get a good pair of walking shoes, and you’re all set. Aside from being joint-friendly and low-impact, you’ll sweat less (bonus). The key to walking for weight loss is consistency. Keep working at it on a regular schedule, and you’ll feel the benefits to your health, even if you’re not setting any weight loss records.
Cycling for Exercise
Cycling definitely offers more rhythmic, aerobic exercise. Cruising along at 16-19 mph burns about 850 calories per hour, considerably more than walking. It has the effect of dulling the appetite temporarily, which can also help with weight loss and fitness. Depending on the equipment you have, you can cycle indoors on a rainy day without getting soaked. Speaking of equipment, that’s one drawback that comes with cycling. Buying a good bike may prove expensive. Even a stationary bike will cost considerably more than those walking shoes.
When it comes to the likelihood of injuries, crashes and collisions with motor vehicles can cause many severe injuries and are often fatal. Presuming safe cycling and avoidance of impacts… it’s not uncommon for cyclists to have superficial soft tissue injuries and injuries from overuse.
Running for Exercise
Another rhythmic and aerobic activity is running. If you are new to exercise, you should start by walking and work your way up to running. Injuries are common enough with experienced runners. If you want to burn a lot of calories, running a seven-minute mile will burn 1000 calories per hour… a calorie incinerator! Running is known to help increase bone strength and lower inflammation in the knees. However, it’s also known to cause fractures, shin splints, and ITB Friction Syndrome (iliotibial band friction), requiring medical treatment. Sprains and overuse injuries are also typical. Approximately half of all runners get injured each year, so you should weigh the risks against the benefits.
Get the Help You Need
So, you see, there is quite a bit of information to consider as you start a new exercise program. It’s not just about burning calories and developing fitness. Your activity level and the type of exercise you do should be appropriate for your activity level. Moving your body is good for you. Overdoing it can lead to injury.
As a Physical Therapy practice, we see these commonplace injuries all the time. We can offer physical therapy treatments for most of these exercise injuries. We may treat you after surgery for more severe injuries. Kinetic Physical Therapy provides a clean, safe place for you to participate in a therapy program to get you back on the move in no time. Call and schedule an appointment for a consultation today!
