The results of a new study indicate that daily walks can help older adults remain mobile and improve their quality of life. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, included more than 1,600 inactive adults ages 70 to 89 years who were at risk of losing their mobility, which was defined as the ability to walk without assistance.

Participants were split into two groups. One group walked 20 minutes a day, while the other group received educational material about healthy aging. After more than 2 years, the seniors in the walking group had an 18% lower risk of major mobility disability, which means they were more capable of walking without assistance for about a quarter-mile.

Thomas Gill, MD, one of the study’s researchers, says, “Maintaining independence for older adults is both a public health and a clinical priority, and modifying lifestyle is an important approach to maintaining independence.”

Gill adds, “We want to change how people live.”

Source: Health Day