Walking on Cobblestones Good for Health

[Celebration]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/fit_cobblestones_health;_ylt=AhDTykUBGgSMwM5ziVJjL3Zhr7sF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Behavioral researchers from the Oregon Research Institute investigated the health effects of cobblestones after observing people exercising and walking back and forth over traditional stone paths in China.

"We noticed in several cities we visited that people were walking on cobblestone paths, and people were standing on them, and sometimes dancing on them, doing weight-shifting," said John Fisher, who led the study at the institute in Eugene.

...........................................

The results surprised Fisher and his fellow researchers, who expected to see some general improvement in health but also saw blood pressure drop measurably among the volunteers during the 16-week study.

"It's very provocative," said Dr. David Ellison, the chief hypertension expert at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

[NYC]

1. Strange, but interesting.

Thanks.

[Sequoia]

2. Skipping Down the cobble stones.....

Feeling groovy!

[Spinzonner]

3. So, you should get stoned when you go for a walk ?

[johnnomac]

6. That could help

Another option is for the entire city to get stoned and then you can walk anywhere and it's better for you.

You know, maybe I should read that article again....

[HuckleB]

4. Sweet!

I do enjoy a good, old-fashioned walk on cobblestones. Now, a bike ride on cobblestones? Well, I doubt they'd find the same results. I can definitely say that I've no need to do that again.

;)

[Celebration]

5. I know what you mean

To think I used to be able to bike ride off curbs even and not feel the difference......

I love to go barefoot outside and on gravel and even on our kind of uneven driveway, so I loved this study. My daughter has some "shower" shoes by Adidas that have hard plastic spike type things to stimulate the feet. They feel good at the same time as they feel slightly too much-- probably a lot like cobblestones. I'm going to chuck my shoes when I am inside and get some of those. I'll chuck my shoes outside and make my way carefully down the pebbled driveway to get the newspaper. When I go out to the pool I will just go barefoot and try to avoid the sharp pine needles.

Ok, no cobblestones in my neighborhood so I am making do.