Step up and walk for better heart health

Moderate-intensity walking can improve cardiovascular risk factors in the short term, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

To date, research has been mixed as to the ability of walking to change biological markers such as cholesterol, weight and blood pressure.

Researchers conducted a study on a group of 70 women who were voluntarily taking part in a community walking program. Participants were given a programmable pedometer to wear during the day for a 10-week period. They were asked to walk briskly for at least 150 minutes per week. Two days later, they returned to record pre-test data. Next, a web-based risk assessment tool was used to determine the participant's risk of a heart attack within the next 10 years.

After five weeks, participants’ data was downloaded, reviewed and discussed with participants. Participants were also offered a challenge to increase aerobic activity as well as to improve retention to study completion. This challenge included an increase their total daily average of aerobic steps by at least 10 percent for the remainder of the study.

At the end of the program, participants weight, body mass index, blood pressure and cholesterol levels were measured.

The results of their post-test confirmed the team's initial hypothesis that walking would improve cardiovascular risk factors in the short term.

"I believe there is a need to test for effects of a built-in challenge within a program to see if that helps motivate participants to participate longer and/or produces more successful outcomes," said Pamela Stewart Fahs, associate dean, professor and chair in rural nursing at the Binghamton University Decker School of Nursing. "In addition, work needs to be done to see how best to keep rural women engaged in meaningful exercise for longer periods of time."