4 newportbeachindy . com APRIL 28 , 2023

By Richard Simon | NB Indy

Remember when you used to pester your little sibling to play , and they yelled “ Go take a walk !”

You may not have thought so then , but that might have been one of the best pieces of advice you ever received .

Anthropologists have concluded that little ape-like human ancestors named “ Ardipithecus Radicus ” ambled clumsily on two legs about 4.4 million years ago . Their minuscule brains probably had no verbal concept that they were walking , although they may have “ known ” that their feet hurt after hours of scouring the bush for food .

As bipedal creatures evolved , they all probably got tired of foot blisters , stubbed and broken toes , insect and / or snake bites , cracked and bleeding skin and callouses . So 40,000 years ago , homo sapiens invented shoes , which markedly aided their wanderings , meanderings and migrations .

The invention of the wheel some 5,000 years ago slowly diminished the need for walking . Now , walking too often consists of ambling from the restaurant to the car , or casually strolling down the supermarket aisles .

But don ’ t worry , walking increased in popularity in 1990 due to government recommendations for increased physical activity at moderate intensity . According to a recent U . S . Bureau of Labor Statistics survey , 30 percent of people who engaged in sports chose walking as their preferred activity , followed by weightlifting at 13 percent .

Researcher Dr . Shane O ’ Mara of Trinity College in Dublin , Ireland , highlighted the benefits of walking in his 2020 book , “ In Praise of Walking : A New Scientific Exploration .”

As the early walkers discovered , walking frees up one ’ s hands . Walking increases the strength of signals in the brain concerned

Walkers compete with bicycles on the Balboa Peninsula Boardwalk

with all the senses . It increases creativity ; it improves wear and tear on muscles and connective tissues , and encourages brain cell growth . Plus , walking gets us away from the dinner table or television and into the outer physical world .

Ten thousand is the most quoted number of walking steps one should take daily . Three thousand to 4,000 steps a day equates up to two miles , depending on stride . Then , of course , briskness of pace can be factored into one ’ s conditioning equation . The U . S . Department of Health recommends 150 minutes per week of exercise . That could include walking up stairs in one ’ s home , chasing the little ones on the playground , or walking the dog — which is also great for the pooch .

The Mayo Clinic cites the benefits of regular walking : reduced risks of heart disease , obesity , diabetes , high blood pressure and depression . A Salute to Shoes Today , shoes have become our protective callouses . Their designs , engineering , materials and manufacture together have enhanced the walking experience , while leading to better foot health .

To get a leg up on the type of shoe to buy , there are a few differences to know between walking and running . When a runner ’ s foot hits the ground , it usually absorbs up to three times the body ’ s weight , while a walker ’ s impact is but one and one-half the body weight . Walkers also distribute weight more evenly to feet and legs .

Because runners exert more energy , their feet tend to get hotter and more sweaty , which has led shoe designers to incorporate more breathable mesh into their products , leading to lighter shoes . Walking shoes , though heavier , provide more stability — although both running and walking shoes offer varying degrees of both .

The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine highlights the difference between walking and running shoes :

• Soles : Walking shoes have more flex and bend than do running shoes .

• Heels : Running shoes have thick heel

wedges , while a thick heel on walking shoes may cause tendinitis or shin splints .

• Motion control : Running shoes offer more motion control to keep the foot neutral , while walking shoes ( generally ) offer less stability .

• Weight : Running shoes are generally lighter in weight for faster speeds ; whereas , walking shoes ( as differentiated from hiking boots ) are always heavier — although not heavy .

If there were one benefit to the global Covid pandemic , it is that this virus encouraged people to head outdoors to walk . According to Tony Disarufino , retail marketing manager for the 40-year-old , 46-store Road Runner Sports shoe chain ( with one store at Triangle Square , Costa Mesa ), “ We have seen a definite uptick in the sale of walking shoes coming out of the pandemic .” Walking-specific shoes now account for 40 percent of sales , he shared .

“ Well , howz it feel ?” is no longer the only standard criteria for walking ( or running ) shoe selection ? At Road Runner , customers are encouraged to have their feet digitally scanned , which renders a 3-D image of the foot structure . From there , a “ fit expert ” will make three- or four brand recommendations for the customer to try based on the image . Sales staff encourage walkers to step aboard a treadmill to test the shoes . Runners can be seen testing brands around the indoor track space . Most everyone strides out with a shoebox under their arms . Podiatry Point of View Whereas Road Runner Sports is in business to sell shoes , Fashion Island-based podiatrist D . Jeffrey Haupt states that he ’ s “ in business to keep people out of my office .” Haupt observed that first and foremost , walking or running in properly supportive shoes is mandatory . In choosing the proper

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