Many people may say: Isn’t walking just moving around? Actually, it is not that simple. Walking has many “secrets”, especially for elderly people with chronic diseases and weak physical conditions—it requires great attention.
For elderly people with chronic diseases and poor health, maintaining balance is the most important thing when walking. As people grow older, the incidence of various chronic diseases increases. Under such circumstances, elderly people tend to become slower in terms of brain response, muscle and bone support, and physical coordination. Once balance is lost, falls can easily occur. Therefore, to stay balanced, weak elderly individuals should use a walking stick when taking a walk. The height of the stick should match the position of the hand, and both the tip and the handle should be non-slip.
Diabetic patients should pay special attention to eating something before walking—never walk on an empty stomach. Otherwise, it can easily lead to insufficient blood supply to the brain and hypoglycemia. In severe cases, dizziness may cause falls. When walking after meals, you can take slightly larger steps, keep your chest up, swing your arms naturally, and walk for about 30 minutes to one hour each time. Since everyone’s cardiopulmonary function is different, you should act according to your own capacity.
Weak individuals should swing their arms properly and take larger steps while walking. It is best to start slowly and then increase the speed gradually. This can fully activate the whole body, engage all organs in the exercise, and effectively promote metabolism.
Adjust your walking speed according to your physical tolerance. If you experience chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness or other discomfort, stop and rest immediately.