This science-backed exercise hack will boost the cardio benefits you get from walking

A man walks along a street smiling, carrying his jacket in his hand. He wears jeans, a shirt and sneakers and behind him is a painted orange wall.

Walking has long been celebrated as one of the simplest and most accessible forms of exercise. For years, we’ve been told to aim for that magic number of 10,000 steps a day, but here’s the twist: it’s not just about how many steps you take, but how you take them. A recent study suggests that adding short bursts of speed to your stroll could supercharge its health benefits.

I spoke to Dr. Matthew Ahmadi, a research fellow at the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins centre and faculty of medicine and health about the latest research.