A new study has revealed that walking just 20 minutes a day is highly beneficial for older people with just little mobility. The walking exercise can help people reduce the risk of immobility.

Improvement in quality of life often emerges as a big challenge for older people with immobility problem because of aging, and they find it difficult to be able to move comfortably and perform their daily lives tasks. However, the results derived from the study made it evident that involving in a walk of 20 minutes on daily basis keeps older people mobile.

The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study found that being able to walk without help is very important for older people as reduced mobility increases the risk of illness, hospitalization, disability and death.

The stark results of the study showed that after more than two years of trail and follow-up, the risk of major mobility disability was reduced by 18% among older people who involved themselves in daily exercises. The moderate walking exercise helped them stay fit and walk without relying on others for assistance for about quarter mile.

When the participants were enrolled for the study, they were at high risk for mobility disability, said Evan Hadley, MD, Director of the NIA Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology.

However, after two years they were able to walk with ease, which clearly indicates that it is never too late to start exercising, especially for older people.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health provided support to the researchers for the study to see how exercise have a positive effect for a significant portion of frail older people.

The study suggests doctors to encourage older people to exercise daily to stay mobile and free from many life-threatening diseases.