How to look after your feet
Find out more about how to look after your feet to help decrease your risk of falling.
When you find exercise difficult or aren't sure how to be more active, walking is a great activity. A daily walk, even if it's just a 15-minute stroll to the shops, is really good for you.
Don't feel that you have to take long walks every day. It's better to make walking a part of your everyday routine. If your pace makes you feel a bit out of breath, but you can still hold a conversation, that's ideal. But if that's not manageable for you right now, any kind of activity is better than nothing!
To fit in a little extra walking every day, you could try:
Being active is especially important as we get older and our metabolism slows down, making us more likely to put on weight.
The only way to lose weight is to use up more energy than we take in, and a daily walk can help to burn off some of those calories.
Brisk walking can help to keep your heart strong by increasing your heart rate. It can also reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
Physical activity can reduce your risk of developing some cancers, including breast, bowel and womb cancer.
There are 4.7 million people living with diabetes in the UK. Most of these cases are Type 2 diabetes, which is more likely to affect adults and those who are overweight or obese.
However, you can reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Walking can help to prevent the onset of osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and more likely to break.
Being outside in the fresh air has been linked to better mental wellbeing and reduced stress. Regular exercise can even help to relieve depression.
Walking can also be a social activity when done in a group or with friends, so it can help to tackle feelings of isolation or loneliness.
Being physically active and leading a healthy lifestyle could reduce your risk of developing dementia.
For people with dementia, regular activity can improve their strength and flexibility, ensure better sleep, and some studies suggest it may improve memory and slow the progression of the condition.
If you're worried about the effect being active may have on your health, talk to your doctor to find out if it's safe. It almost certainly will be, but they may need to give you some exercises to build up your strength gradually.
It's not about getting fit, it's just about moving more in whatever way works for you.
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Find out more about how to look after your feet to help decrease your risk of falling.
Find out how to stay steady on your feet and prevent a fall.
Many of us may start to feel unsteady on our feet as we get older. Although most falls don’t cause serious injury,...
Age UK has joined forces with other charities to help those with long-term health conditions get active.
Do you want to get active but aren't sure where to start? Find the answers here.
Being active means something difference for everyone. Find the right activity for you.