Alternative Exercise to Walking

Aerobic Dancing

Since the 1980s fitness craze, aerobics has been a popular aerobic activity. Like walking, it works both the upper and lower body and gets the heart rate up. It’s recommended by MayoClinic.com as one of the alternative exercises for walking. It also meets the MayoClinic.com's 10 benefits of aerobic exercise. It sheds pounds, increases stamina, strengthens the heart and manages chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. What’s more, the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine recommends aerobics dancing for fitness -- provided that you wear the proper athletic shoes.

Swimming

Swimming is another exercise recommended by MayoClinic.com as an alternative for walking. It’s a low-impact cardiovascular workout. Like walking, it’s a total-body exercise, but it’s easy on the joints because the water acts as the resistance. According to Bucknell University, swimming improves muscle strength, flexibility and balance. It's effective for people of all ages, even those with weight limitations and asthma. A study originally conducted by McMaster University in Canada suggests that swimming can actually improve the aerobic fitness levels of people suffering from asthma.

Zumba

Zumba, the Latin dance exercise, is an option if you want to have fun while you work out. According to Dr. Edward R. Laskowski of MayoClinic.com, it's an aerobic dance that can improve cardiovascular endurance if performed at a moderate intensity level. In other words, you should be breaking a sweat and feeling the burn. If not, then you’re not working hard enough. When performed at a moderate intensity level, Zumba is quite effective at increasing the heart rate and strengthening the muscles -- just like walking.

Cycling

If you’re tired of walking, hop on a bike. According to the Cleveland Clinic, cycling is an ideal alternative for walking -- especially for those that are more than 50 pounds overweight. Why is that? Cycling is low impact and easier on the the joints than walking. But like the other exercises, cycling still increases the heart rate, burns calories and works the leg muscles. It also increases cardiovascular endurance over time. Cycle inside -- on a stationary bike -- or outside. Either way, it’s definitely a comparable exercise to walking.