Walking -- such a defining human activity! Indeed, our "walk" is so individual that people even recognize us from afar. Being unable to walk, or to do so comfortably, feels like a big loss.
Much has been written about walking's benefits. It's not just that we walk that's important, but HOW we do it. For instance, walking with some intensity, pushing ourselves a bit, gives a very specific brain benefit. Higher intensity exercise results in increased amounts of neurotropic factors in the brain (think of them as "miracle grow") that promote cell repair and proper function. For People with Parkinson's, higher intensity effort improves the efficiency of dopamine utilization and therefore movement.
Now research shows that the heel striking the ground when we walk or run improves circulation to the brain by setting up "backward-flowing waves through the arteries that sync with the heart rate and stride rate to dynamically regulate blood circulation to the brain." Researcher Ernest Greene explains "There is an optimizing rhythm between brain blood flow and ambulating. Stride rates and their foot impacts are within the range of our normal heart rates (about 120/minute) when we are briskly moving along." There's that bit of intensity again. Read more
