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Choosing The Stairs Over The Elevator Can Make a Big Health Difference
A new study shows we shouldn’t discount small activity changes
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
How many times have you heard this recommendation to increase physical activity levels? As a healthcare provider, I probably heard and provided this recommendation at least once a week for the past 10 years. It’s easy to recommend as the choice frequently presents itself.
But does this simple action really make that big of a difference?
If someone is inactive, failing to accumulate even 4000 steps a day, it’s hard to imagine 20 seconds of physical activity making any appreciable difference in health status. It feels akin to eating one extra baby carrot a day or sleeping 2 more minutes a night to boost your health.
Yet, when we look at the data from a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), we see a single flight of stairs can make a meaningful impact.
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