Just the thought of a walk on the beach and the feeling of the warm sand under your bare feet, can make almost anyone dream for a moment, smile and prepare their plans for a future holiday.
It's no secret that the idea of walking barefoot on the beach is extremely exciting, but did you know that it also has health benefits for the body. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the benefits you can get from a barefoot walk on the beach.
Walking on sand adds extra strain on muscles, tendons and joints. It also keeps your ankles mobile, they move in a high volume of motion to help you keep your balance. Everyone knows that walking on sand is many times harder than walking on hard surfaces. The sinking of the sole, contributes to the leg muscles to activate much more significantly to be able to provide the next step.
It should be noted that this type of activity involves many muscles, not just of the legs, but of the whole body, including the small muscles of the foot that support the arch.
Walking on the sand helps to reduce stress levels as it predisposes to calm and relaxation. We are all aware that stress is a factor that can cause us many health problems. You need to take advantage of your days off and relax on a beach.
Proprioception is the sense by which we know where a particular part of our body is in space. The instability that occurs when walking on sand creates an environment that is particularly useful for training and stimulating neuromuscular activity in the lower limbs. This is particularly helpful to people who have had previous lower limb injuries.
Walking on sand requires more effort. That extra effort requires more energy, which in turn requires burning calories to get that energy. In a study conducted, results showed that a walk on the beach can burn up to 50% more calories than a walk in the park.
As with any new physical activity, you should be careful with prolonged walking or running on sand. You need to start with shorter distances and gradually increase the load, otherwise you risk overloading your muscles and tendons and causing some pain or injury.
In order to enjoy your holiday to the fullest, don't force yourself with too long walks on the beach, leave yourself time to sit and enjoy the sea, the sun, the food and the good company.
