Sedan Chairs and Cobblestones

There wasn’t so much high blood pressure in the days of sedan chairs and cobblestone streets – at least, if there was, no one knew it. Maybe the sedan chairs had a beneficial effect. For every one person who was an old-fashioned ‘couch-potato’, four stalwarts were getting an aerobic and strength-exercise workout. But from what we know now, the cobblestones may have also has a beneficial effect.

Oregon researchers have shown  that walking on cobblestones actually lowers blood pressure. Over 100 healthy but physically inactive adults over 60 undertook a cobblestone mat–walking program (30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 16 weeks). The mats – 6 feet by 1.5 feet – had small- to medium-sized river stones embedded on them. After 16 weeks, the cobblestone-walking subjects had a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, compared with other subjects who walked on normal surfaces. 

Where can I walk on cobblestones, you may ask? There aren’t many places in the USA , though in Europe they aren’t hard to find. You can buy a cobblestone mat from the Oregon Research Institute  for $25 plus $10 shipping, but you’d better hurry – they may sell out!

Comments

[bonnie jeanne]

Could creating an area like this in your backyard work. Say a small walk way of stones. Also besides lowering bp would it be beneficial in small doses to relieve fibromyalgia stress pain in legs/hips?

[Robert Griffith]

Bonnie:
It's well known that exercise, when dosed right, can help fibromyalgia. (See the link below). Maybe the cobblestones would add another element? Try it and see - it shouldn't make things any worse!
http://familydoctor.org/061.xml