AMHERST, Mass. – A recent study out of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has shed light on a new way to increase calorie burn while walking. Researchers found that varying your stride length can significantly impact metabolism, leading to a higher calorie-burning rate during walks.
The study, led by kinesiology experts, focused on the movements of 18 healthy adults in their mid-20s as they walked on a treadmill. Participants were instructed to adjust their stride length by 5% to 10% shorter or longer than their usual stride length, while researchers monitored their metabolism levels.
The findings revealed that even a small increase in “step length variability” of 2.7% can result in a 1.7% boost in metabolism. This suggests that incorporating uneven strides into your walking routine can be a simple and effective way to enhance calorie burn.
Lead researcher Adam Grimmitt emphasized the potential impact of these findings on improving energy conservation in older populations, beyond just focusing on calorie burning. Future studies will delve into how foot placement accuracy and muscle engagement can be optimized based on this new information.
By incorporating non-uniform strides into your walks, you can potentially boost your metabolism and burn more calories without making drastic changes to your routine. This research opens up new possibilities for enhancing the effectiveness of exercise, especially for individuals looking to optimize their calorie-burning potential.