Written By: Shelli Stevenson PT, DPT
The snow is melting, the flowers are blooming, the trails are clear, the air is fresh, and the mountains are calling you! Hiking could be the single best thing you do for your mental and physical health this summer!
I have done more hiking this year than in previous summers, due to being 8 months pregnant. I knew hiking would help me feel better physically and strengthen my body. What I didn’t anticipate was the positive impact my trial-time would have on my mental and emotional well-being.
As a physical therapist, I can say the physical benefits of hiking are outstanding and come at a very low monetary cost! You do not need a gym membership or any fancy equipment to start hiking and change your body. Below I have listed 5 of the strongest physical benefits of spending time on the trail:
- Increases cardiovascular strength and endurance thus reducing high blood pressure, reducing heart disease, lowering cholesterol, and preventing/reversing diabetes.
- Increases bone density due to the variable surfaces and the weight-bearing.
- Increases strength in core and legs as well as your arms if you are using trekking poles.
- Improves your balance with the constantly changing angle of the ground, variable surfaces, obstacles, and constantly changing visual field.
- Helps you lose weight and decrease body fat! (you can burn over 500 calories an hour!)
I continue to rack up trail miles this summer and after each hike, I am pleasantly surprised at how my mental attitude and overall mood improve. Every time I get out in nature, away from the overstimulation of technology and people, I feel relaxed, happy, and more focused. I am a better person every time I return home from a hike. This recognition forced me to research the psychological benefits of hiking, which I have listed below:
- Increases your attention span and increases your creative problem-solving skills.
- Increases happiness levels and decreases feelings of helplessness.
- Decreases worry and anxiety and improve your positive thoughts.
- Improves your memory!
- Improves your sleep quality!
So join me this summer in “Take a Hike to Change Your Life!” Start small and begin to reap the benefits! If you find yourself at the top of a mountain this summer, take a picture and post it on our Lone Peak Physical Therapy Facebook Page or Instagram. If you are local and would like support from the hiking community in the Bozeman area, the Hiking Bozeman Forum group is a great start. If you’re looking for a trail near you, look here for a list of trails!
Happy Trails!
Move better, feel better, and live better!
