Women’s Health: How to Use a Walking Pad, According to Physical Therapists

Women’s Health recently interviewed sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon Bert Mandelbaum, MD, vice chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cedars-Sinai, about the benefits of walking pads and how they can supplement an exercise routine.

Walking pads—compact treadmills designed for slow, low-impact movement—have grown in popularity among office workers who slide them under their desks to avoid sitting at a computer all day.

For those who want to incorporate a walking pad into their daily routine, experts recommend maintaining good posture, wearing proper footwear and easing into short sessions. Mandelbaum said that when starting a new workout of any kind, it’s important to pay attention to how you feel and be aware of any pain.

Mandelbaum told Women’s Health that once a new walking pad user feels comfortable on the machine and isn’t experiencing any aches, they should engage in frequent and longer sessions to receive the most benefit.

“The more activity you get in terms of duration, intensity, and frequency, the more health benefits you’re going to get,” Mandelbaum said.

Using a walking pad is a great way to get more steps and to stave off the effects of prolonged sitting. But Mandelbaum emphasized that they should be considered a “complementary activity” rather than a proper workout.

“It’s not going to be robust enough to compare to the workout you’d get from doing treadmill intervals,” Mandelbaum said.

Using a walking pad also shouldn’t replace a walk outside, if time permits, Mandelbaum told Women’s Health.  

“Exercising outside means you’ve got variation with hills and intensity—it’s more diversified outdoors,” he said.

Read the complete article from Women’s Health.