Hiking
Hiking has been studied in 9 papers since 2018: 2 trials and 6 observational studies in people, 1 review. The newest paper, Aug 16, 2024: “A Pre-Post Study Design Exploring the Potential Benefits of a Hiking Intervention for Active and Inactive Older Adults”.
9 papers study it10 findingsUpdated
“Participants significantly improved their cardiorespiratory fitness (p = .003, d = 0.77)”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 5 independent labs in 6 countries
- Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and others
- Human trial2
- Humans6
Studies in people
1 study gave hiking to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves physical health-related quality of lifed = 0.71, p = .03
up: Improves cardiorespiratory fitnessd = 0.77, p = .003
up: Increases exercise self-efficacyd = 1.43, p = .001
Trial13 people55-75 years8 weeks
Midlife adults; Older adults; previously inactive older adults
Journal of aging and physical activity, Aug 16, 2024
What did studies of Hiking find?
9Studies of Hiking measured 9 outcomes; the most studied are exercise self-efficacy (1 study), cardiorespiratory fitness (1) and physical health-related quality of life (1).
Exercise self-efficacy
upin humans1
1 study
Exercise self-efficacy
upin humans1
Hiking increases exercise self-efficacy in humans (d = 1.43, p = .001).
“The previously inactive group additionally increased their self-efficacy for exercise (p = .001, d = 1.43).”
Human trialpreviously inactive older adultsgroup-based biweekly hiking8 weeksn = 13
Journal of aging and physical activity
Cardiorespiratory fitness
upin humans1
1 study
Cardiorespiratory fitness
upin humans1
Hiking improves cardiorespiratory fitness in humans (d = 0.77, p = .003).
“Participants significantly improved their cardiorespiratory fitness (p = .003, d = 0.77)”
Human trialgroup-based biweekly hiking8 weeksn = 27
Journal of aging and physical activity
Physical health-related quality of life
upin humans1
1 study
Physical health-related quality of life
upin humans1
Hiking improves physical health-related quality of life in humans (d = 0.71, p = .03).
“There was a significant increase in the physical component of quality of life over time in the previously inactive group (p = .03, d = 0.71).”
Human trialpreviously inactive older adultsgroup-based biweekly hiking8 weeksn = 13
Journal of aging and physical activity
Frailty
downin humans1
1 study
Frailty
downin humans1
Hiking decreases frailty in humans (men: B, - 0.36; women: B, - 0.29).
“The sports/exercise types that significantly prevented increments in KCL scores for both sexes compared to non-participants were hiking (men: B, - 0.36; women: B, - 0.29)”
Humans3 years
European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity
Mental health
upin humans1
1 study
Mental health
upin humans1
Hiking improves mental health in humans.
“First, three leisure activities including walking, Guangchangwu, and hiking have positive associations on mental health for older adults with chronic diseases.”
Humansin older adults with chronic diseases
Frontiers in public health
Mood
upin humans1
1 study
Mood
upin humans1
Hiking improves mood in humans.
“HIK group differs from the others with respect to most of the measurements, presenting better mood”
Humansn = 151
Brain sciences
Cognitive function
upin humans1
1 study
Cognitive function
upin humans1
Hiking improves cognitive function in humans.
“HIK group differs from the others with respect to most of the measurements, presenting better mood and cognitive performance”
Humansn = 151
Brain sciences
Depressive symptoms
downin humans1
1 study
Depressive symptoms
downin humans1
Hiking prevents depressive symptoms in humans (B = -0.16, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.03).
“Women participating in walking, weight exercises, and hiking groups were more likely to prevent an increase in the GDS-15 (-0.12, -0.19 to -0.04; -0.09, -0.18 to -0.01; and -0.16, -0.30 to -0.03, respectively)”
Humans3 yrfemalesn = 36,799
Medicine and science in sports and exercise
Quality of life
upin humans1
1 study
Quality of life
upin humans1
Hiking improves quality of life in humans.
“Hiking, playing musical instruments, dancing and yoga are examples of body-mind activities that assign depth, purpose, meaning, social embedding, etc. to long-term beneficial physical "activities" and increase quality of life”
Review
Frontiers in psychology
What is Hiking linked with?
1Studies link Hiking with 1 measure, most often mediolateral center of pressure variance (1 study).
Mediolateral center of pressure variance
downin humans1
1 study
Mediolateral center of pressure variance
downin humans1
Hiking is associated with mediolateral center of pressure variance in humans (Variance: 2.2 vs 2.8 mm, p < .001; temporal autocorrelation: 0.59 vs 0.65, p = .006).
“Mediolateral center of pressure displacement of hikers exhibited significantly lower variance (2.2 vs 2.8 mm, p < .001) and temporal autocorrelation”
HumansHikers compared with nonhikers among high-functioning older adults59% malesn = 240
The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences