Looking for a workout that tones your body, burns calories, and boosts your stamina—all while keeping things exciting? It’s time to step up, literally and start climbing stairs.
Whether you are using the star climbing machines or regular stairs, this workout can help you elevate your fitness goals.
Let’s explore the benefits and tips for making the most of stair climbing and why you should sometimes ditch the elevator.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, stair climbing is a challenging cardio workout that burns 544 calories an hour, more than double what a 68 kg person burns walking at a moderate pace. It is also said to provide aerobic fitness, strengthen the heart, and reduce the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The above source also mentions that stair climbing improves balance, and working core muscles, the exercise also strengthens the lower body, particularly the glutes, thigh muscles, and calves.
Metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, can be reduced by using stairs in daily life, claims the Everyday Health publication. Studies show that stair climbing can be an intense exercise that may stave off metabolic disease.
“Other research that looked at older men found that over a 12-year follow-up period, those who climbed at least 35 floors per week were 16 per cent less likely to die from any cause than those who climbed fewer than 10 floors weekly.”
Stair climbing is also believed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, as it stimulates changes in the cardiorespiratory system, making physical activities easier. The above-mentioned source adds that stair climbing also boosts energy and mood, as it provides an endorphin high, which can keep people coming back to the workout.
