Swimming and walking are common forms of exercise used to burn calories, increase endurance, and improve respiratory and cardiovascular fitness. However, it is a very common question among all those who train: is it better to swim or go for a walk? Each activity has its own advantages. Some exercisers prefer the other in training, while many incorporate both into their fitness routines.
What are the benefits of walking?
Walking is one of the most common forms of exercise and requires little preparation or investment. Walking, and particularly brisk walking, is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise; recently compiled studies show that regular walkers are less likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke and diabetes than non-walkers.
And what advantages does swimming offer?
On the other hand, swimming is a good form of intense exercise to burn calories, strengthen muscles and improve the functioning of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Because swimmers use a wide range of different muscles, this form of exercise is an excellent workout for muscle groups in the arms, legs, and torso.
In many ways, swimming is a more effective form of exercise than walking. This is because swimming exercises a wider range of muscle groups and burns more calories than walking, while providing many of the same benefits to the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Also, swimming is better than walking for joints like ankles and knees, which makes it a very good form of training and exercise for people who suffer from joint pain or are at risk for joint injuries.
So which is better, walking or swimming?
Although swimming offers a more intense workout than walking, there are a wide range of factors that make walking preferable for many people.
Walking does not require special equipment, while swimming requires a pool or other place with water. Walking doesn’t require special skills either, while swimming laps are just an effective form of exercise for those who already know how to swim. These facts make walking more accessible and easier to integrate into the daily routine than swimming laps.
Walking is a good way to burn calories, but the type of walk that everyone does, will undoubtedly end up making a difference. Speed, terrain, and even how much time you spend all have an impact on the effectiveness of your walking training. Even so, and if it helps, going for a walk every day is considered one of the best exercises to get in shape , according to a study from Harvard University.
Assuming an average body weight of 200 pounds, walking a mile an hour for 30 minutes burns 95 calories, while walking the same amount of time at 3 miles an hour burns 148 or so. The faster you walk, the more calories you burn.
As a general rule of thumb, swimming burns more calories than walking. This is because it is an exercise that requires greater stress for the body. This activates both the muscles and the cardiovascular system.
Depending on the characteristics of each one, it will be more or less advisable to choose swimming over going for a walk. If it is an elderly person with a large body weight, it will be better to start with walking, and swimming once you have advanced a little more in your training.
