Walking training has been studied in 14 papers since 2021: 5 trials and 3 observational studies in people, 5 reviews; 3 in the past year. The newest story, Oct 25, 2026: “Responses to physical training varied among older adults”.
14 papers study it9 findingsUpdated
1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 14
“All groups showed significant improvements in functional balance and gait (p < 0.001) and balance ability (p < 0.001) post-training.”
None of its findings points the other way.
4 studies gave walking training to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves physical function
no change: Has no effect on anthropometric measures
Trialmean age 69.9 ± 3.7 years6 weeks
Older adults
American journal of health promotion : AJHP, Sep 22, 2025
up: Improves physical function
Randomized trial28 peopleover 6012-week
Older adults; Parkinson's disease
Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), Oct 11, 2024
up: Improves balance abilityp < 0.001
Randomized trial102 peoplemean age = 75.2 years12 training sessions
Older adults; at risk of falling
Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, Jan 28, 2024
up: Increases maximal expiratory pressurep = .007
Randomized trial30 people8 weeks
Patient cohorts
Acta neurologica Scandinavica, Aug 30, 2021
Studies of Walking training measured 8 outcomes; the most studied are physical function (2 studies), blood glucose control (1) and HbA1c (1).
Physical function
upin humans2
Walking training improves physical function in humans.
“The experimental group showed significant improvements in lower limb strength, walking speed, and cardiorespiratory capacity.”
Human trial6 weeks
American journal of health promotion : AJHP
Walking training improves physical function in humans.
“Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvement in chair and balance test scores compared to controls.”
Human trialParkinson's disease12-weekn = 28
Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)
Blood glucose control
upin humans1
Walking training improves blood glucose control in humans.
“Walking training can significantly improve the blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.”
Reviewtype 2 diabetes
Experimental gerontology
HbA1c
downin humans1
Walking training decreases HbA1c in humans (-0.48% (95% CI: -0.60 to -0.36, P < 0.00001)).
“walking training significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin levels, with a combined effect of -0.48% (95% CI: -0.60 to -0.36, P < 0.00001)”
Reviewtype 2 diabetes≥8 weeksn = 483
Experimental gerontology
Anthropometric measures
no changein humans1
Walking training has no effect on anthropometric measures in humans.
“No significant changes were found in anthropometric or psychosocial measures.”
Human trial6 weeks
American journal of health promotion : AJHP
Balance ability
upin humans1
Walking training improves balance ability in humans (p < 0.001).
“All groups showed significant improvements in functional balance and gait (p < 0.001) and balance ability (p < 0.001) post-training.”
Human trialat risk of falling12 training sessionsn = 102
Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
Cortical activation
upin humans1
Walking training increases cortical activation in humans.
“More than 5 weeks walking training or physiotherapy can contribute to motor function promotion as well as cortices activation of PD and stroke patients.”
Reviewin PD and stroke patients> 5 weeks
Frontiers in physiology
Motor function
upin humans1
Walking training improves motor function in humans.
“More than 5 weeks walking training or physiotherapy can contribute to motor function promotion as well as cortices activation of PD and stroke patients.”
Reviewin PD and stroke patients> 5 weeks
Frontiers in physiology
Maximal expiratory pressure
upin humans1
Walking training increases maximal expiratory pressure in humans (p = .007).
“The increase in maximal expiratory pressure was significantly higher in the W + RMT group than in the RMT group (p = .007).”
Human trialcombined with respiratory muscle training in Parkinson's disease8 weeksn = 30
Walking training augments the effects of expiratory muscle training in Parkinson's disease
Acta neurologica Scandinavica
After 12 months of training, 46% of participants met the study’s threshold for a high response in two to five physical outcomes.After 12 months of training, 46% of participants met the study’s threshold for a high response in two to five physical outcomes.