By improving bone health, you’ll be less likely to fall

Weight-bearing strength exercises can promote bone health, which is essential, especially as we age. If you’ve not got strong bones, walking may well become harder – and more dangerous.

You’ll become more functionally fit

Perhaps the most important thing is functional strength. We want to be able to handle inclines and uneven terrain, dodge barking dogs, turn sharply, and recover quickly from slipping. You never know what’s going to happen on a walk, but being functionally fit means that you’re able to deal with it when it happens.

Functional strength involves movements that you’d use in real life. That might mean using the stepper at the gym, or setting the treadmill on a high incline. It might mean doing walking lunges over static, trying farmer’s carry (holding a heavy kettlebell in each hand as you walk) or single-leg deadlifts.

Do you need to train to walk further? How to strengthen your walking muscles to avoid future niggles