Holistic Feathers

The 'Health Walk'

The short definition of a health walk is:

“a purposeful, brisk walk undertaken on a regular basis”

and it can include any walk which is specifically designed and carried out for the purpose of improving an individual’s health.

It is the relative intensity of the walk for the individual and the regularity of participation that can really have an impact on heart health.With regard to cardiovascular health, the walk should be purposeful and ‘brisk’ (in other words more than just a stroll).

Organised walks (brisk or not) can have a health impact on individuals by providing an opportunity to socialise (good social networks enhance health) and a distraction from everyday stresses (stress contributes to poor health).

Health is one of the four main themes on which Natural England* is currently campaigning and the work of WHI is an integral part of this campaign.
Growing medical evidence shows that access to the natural environment improves health and wellbeing, prevents disease and helps people recover from illness. Experiencing nature in the outdoors can help tackle childhood obesity, coronary heart disease, stress and mental health problems. Adults who become more active halve their risk of dying early from heart disease. People using the natural environment keep active longer.

Natural England believes that, among other things, programmes providing regular healthy walks could be greatly expanded and will be supporting WHI in this work.

Through Natural England, the Department of Health is working with WHI in developing a Physical Activity Care Pathway pilot. The “pathway” is a means by which frontline health professionals can identify sedentary patients who would benefit – in terms of physical health – from increased levels of physical activity.

This pathway has been designed to help facilitate the promotion of physical activity across primary care. The pathway is a tool for GPs and other professionals to use with patients who would benefit from a more active lifestyle and should result in signposting to local health walks and green exercise schemes in addition to opportunities for local indoor activities.

Growing awareness of the benefits and sustainability of healthy walking means that GPs should be challenged to extend the range of options for these patients beyond the indoor-based or gym-based exercise that may not appeal to some patients.

For further information or to discover your nearest Natural England health walk visit Walking the way to Health