Why is standing more tiring than walking?
Standing takes less energy than walking, so why does it feel more tiring? At least, it does for CrowdScience listener Nina. She can march for hours without getting tired, but her legs and feet get achy after just a short time standing still.
It\u2019s one of three walking-themed questions CrowdScience is tackling this week. Taking inspiration from our active listeners, Marnie Chesterton walks up a hill with Caroline Williams, author of a new book about why humans are designed to move. We find out how our whole system \u2013 body and brain \u2013 works better when we\u2019re walking, compared to standing still. We\u2019re probably set up this way because of our evolutionary history: hunting and gathering needed us to be \u2018cognitively engaged endurance athletes\u2019.
We stop for a break.. but is it true that we shouldn\u2019t sit down to rest during a walk? Our listener Sarah is a keen hillwalker but likes to take the weight off her feet every now and again. Her hillwalking friends disapprove, saying she should rest on her feet. Is this a myth CrowdScience can bust?
And finally a question from listener Matteo: is walking or running better for your health? Numerous studies show significant benefits to both forms of exercise, but in the end, the best kind of exercise is the one you\u2019re motivated to do.
With Caroline Williams, Dr Fran\xe7ois-Xavier Li, Professor Dick Greene and Professor Duck-Chul Lee.