Walking may be the best fitness activity for many seniors given the relatively low physical risks and the enormous long-term health benefits.

These 'Walking Tips for Seniors' are designed to reduce the risk of often preventable foot and ankle injuries and ailments that could lead to inactivity, and prohibit many seniors from realizing the tremendous benefits of walking.

Benefits of Walking In addition to the long-term benefit of prolonging life, seniors can experience many short-term benefits from walking. Walking:

-- Controls weight, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. A brisk walk can burn up to 100 calories per mile or 300 calories per hour. Walking is the perfect complement to a sensible diet to lose weight and keep it off;

-- Improves cardiovascular fitness and circulation. Walking gets the heart beating faster to transport oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the muscles; and increases the size and improves the efficiency of tiny vessels that supply blood for cellular respiration;

-- Facilitates medical rehabilitation and recovery from many ailments, including heart attack;

-- Generates a sense of well-being, and can relieve depression, anxiety and stress by naturally producing endorphins, the body's natural tranquilizer;

Getting started We recommend setting appropriate and realistic goals, pacing oneself, choosing an appropriate and "like-able" activity, and paying attention to what the body, including the feet, reveals. Drinking fluids on hot days or during very strenuous activities to avoid heat stroke and heat exhaustion is vitally important.