Walking Pace Linked To Heart Rhythm: How To Walk For A Steady Beat

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April 16, 2025, 7:42 AM

• •A new study suggests that walking briskly and for sustained periods may significantly lower the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders.
• •People who walked at an average pace (3–4 miles per hour) or brisk pace (over 4 miles per hour) had up to a 43% lower risk of developing heart rhythm issues compared to slow walkers (under 3 miles per hour).
• •The association between walking pace and heart health was strongest among women, those under 60, non-obese individuals, those with high blood pressure, and those with two or more long-term conditions.

A new study has found that walking briskly for sustained periods of time may significantly lower the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders. The study, which was published in the journal Heart, looked at the walking pace and heart rhythm disorders of 420,925 participants of the UK Biobank. Researchers found that people who walked at an average pace (3–4 miles per hour) or brisk pace (over 4 miles per hour) had up to a 43% lower risk of developing heart rhythm issues compared to slow walkers (under 3 miles per hour). Specifically, brisk walkers saw a 46% drop in risk for atrial fibrillation and a 39% lower risk for other arrhythmias.

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