Before greatly reducing my daily chronic pain level, I worried about how far or long I could be away from home.
The fears that my chronic illnesses created prevented me from getting on my feet and giving my body the exercise it needed.
Then I learned the benefits of walking indoors!
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1. Rest stop
When walking outdoors, it is difficult and often impossible to find somewhere to rest.
Sure you could sit on the curb, but depending on the weather the cement may be too hot, cold, wet, or dirty. Then there is the task of getting up and down from the curb…..
When you walk indoors you are rarely far from a place to rest your feet. If you are walking on a treadmill or around a track at a gym, there’s typically somewhere to sit down. Mall walking is great for the same reason, there are usually benches along your path, not to mention plenty of seats in the food court.
Walking in your house allows you to sit the moment you feel the need. Nor do you have to worry about whether or not a seat is occupied. Walking in your home also allows you to break your walking time up throughout the day.
2. Temp control
Walking indoors prevents sunburn, windburn, and frozen toes!
Who cares if there is rain or snow in the forecast? Not me when I walk indoors! And when I walk at my home I don’t even have to worry about driving in inclement weather.
3. Pit stops
I used to fear that I would need a restroom while walking outdoors.
Unless my route included restaurants or stores that allowed the public to use their restrooms, there weren’t any options besides soiling myself, which was and is not an option!
Walking at home, in a gym, or at the mall means never having to be far from a toilet!!
It was the inflammation and pain reduction that I first experienced with PEMF therapy with Oska Pulse that made it possible to exercise again after not being able to for over a decade. Click here to learn more about this amazing drug-free pain relieving device and save $55 when you enter my discount code CYNTHIA55 at checkout!
4. Personal safety
With indoor walking, you don’t have to worry about running into wild animals or unleashed dogs.
Your chance of being hit by a car when walking inside is zero!
And while I can’t guarantee that you won’t get mugged if you walk at a gym or mall, I think it is safe to say you won’t get jumped by a stranger in your own home.
Another perk is that your terrain is flat and void of cracks, pinecones, rocks, and holes. That is unless your living floor is cluttered and if that is the case you can get your exercise in by cleaning it up.
5. Multitask
Walking inside your home gives you the opportunity to watch your favorite shows and to chat on the phone while getting your daily exercise.
While considered a distraction in any other circumstance, walking at home can get boring and watching TV or enjoying a conversation makes time fly!
Walking indoors may be the answer if chronic pain and/or fatigue from fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, or any other debilitating chronic illness makes walking painful. Just like with walking outdoors, don’t create an unrealistic goal.
Start small and increase when you are able. There is nothing wrong with starting with five minutes of walking per day. If that is what you can do, do it! Five minutes is better than none.
Related posts:
5 Best Practices for Safe Walking
Five Treadmills to fit your home and budget
How to reach your daily step goal without leaving the house
