Overview
- Rafael Hidalgo told Semana that people over 70 can gain clear benefits from walking about 20 minutes a day, a guidance reported on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- Mikel Izquierdo warned that a fixed 10,000‑step goal is a blunt measure and urged that exercise be treated as a medical intervention with defined dose, intensity, progression and recovery.
- Experts say clinicians should assess function with simple tests such as grip strength and timed chair rises and record tailored exercise advice in medical notes to guide safe plans.
- Walking should be steady and regular rather than sporadic high effort, and it works best when paired with adapted strength and balance exercises to reduce frailty and preserve independence.
- If widely adopted, this shift could change how doctors, health services and fitness trackers set targets by emphasizing personalized, monitored programs and simple safety checks.