The impact of a 17 km recreational walk on measures of body composition and hydration in a group of walkers aged >40 years

Abstract

Walking is practised by three times as many individuals (44.5%) as the next-most-popular activity swimming (15 %) and about thirtyeight million adults claim to walk > 3.2 km (2 miles) for pleasure at least once monthly (1) . Walking appeals to both genders, young and old, is often very prolonged and can take place in severe weather. There are many health benefits claimed for regular walking but also risks, e.g. falls, hypothermia, dehydration (2) , especially in the young and elderly. Strenuous walks, especially in hot weather, may compromise water and electrolyte balance, but this outcome may depend on knowledge of risks and requirements and experience. Most studies are of young fit individuals under extreme conditions. The present pilot study aimed to determine whether a recreational walk posed a challenge to the water and electrolyte balance of older walkers.The five male and eight female subjects (mean age 56 (SD 7.54) years) were a self-declared healthy and fit convenience sample of adults known to the authors. The walk was flat, along the river Mersey promenade, and three groups undertook the walk on different days at their own pace with self-determined stops. Intake was not controlled. All measurements were made in a laboratory before and after the walk.