Walking to regain health after illness

Many GPs are now ‘prescribing’ gentle walking for people suffering from a range of conditions. In fact there are few people on most GPs lists who would not benefit from walking more.

If you have been ill, always take your doctor’s advice if it differs from what is written here. It is important not to increase the heart rate too suddenly. At first, you may be able to walk only a very short way at a gentle pace, but if you do this regularly you will soon increase your capacity for distance and pace.

One Ramblers member left hospital in a wheel chair after undergoing heart surgery and a couple of years later walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats