Exercise & Fitness

Power up your walking routine

Bored with looping the neighborhood? Add some kick to your stride.

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
  • Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

photo of a senior woman walking using poles and a weighted backpack to enhance the exercise benefitsLittle can soothe us like the sound and feel of our feet hitting the ground, again and again, while we walk. Long the most popular form of movement among American adults, walking gained fresh appeal during the pandemic, when more than two-thirds of physically active adults reported it became their preferred exercise.

Several years downstream, however, maybe those endless loops around the neighborhood or track are feeling a little humdrum. Or maybe you need more than comfort from your walking routine. That's a sign to kick it up a notch, says Dr. Lauren Elson, a physiatrist (doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation) at Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.

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About the Author

photo of Maureen Salamon

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio
View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

photo of Toni Golen, MD

Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor

Dr. Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. Dr. Golen completed her residency training at George Washington University Medical Center in 1995, and is an associate professor at Harvard Medical … See Full Bio
View all posts by Toni Golen, MD

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No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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