I’ve been dealing with peripheral neuropathy in my feet for nearly a decade now, and like many of you, I’ve been told a thousand times that I need to keep moving to maintain circulation. However, there seems to be a massive divide in the community about how we should actually be doing that. For years, I forced myself to walk three miles every morning on the local paved trail. Lately, I’ve switched almost entirely to the community center pool, and it has sparked a bit of a debate in my support group. I wanted to break down why I think we need to reconsider the ‘walking is king’ mentality using a few different perspectives.
Let’s look at the Environment first. When you walk on pavement or even a treadmill, you are dealing with constant, repetitive impact. For those of us with numb or hypersensitive feet, that impact can be unpredictable. Sometimes I don’t feel the ground correctly, which leads to balance issues, or worse, the friction causes blisters I don’t notice until later. In the water, that environment is controlled. The buoyancy takes the weight off the nerves, and the temperature—if the pool is heated correctly—seems to calm the ‘buzzing’ sensation I get in my toes.
Then there is the Routine itself. Walking is convenient because you just put on shoes and go. But I’ve found that the routine of swimming or water aerobics forces a full-body engagement that walking lacks. My neuropathy isn’t just in my feet; I get occasional tingling in my hands too. Moving through the resistance of water hits those upper extremities in a way that swinging my arms while walking never did.
We also have to consider the immediate Impact on our symptoms. After a long walk, my feet usually feel like they are on fire. The ‘afterburn’ can last for hours, making it hard to relax in the evening. Since switching to the pool, that post-exercise flare-up is significantly reduced. It feels like the water acts as a natural massage for the nerve endings.
Finally, there is the Tracking of progress. It’s much easier to see improvement in the water. I can measure how many laps I do without the fear of a trip or fall. I know many doctors swear by walking for bone density, but is the trade-off of nerve pain worth it? I’m starting to think that for those of us over 50 with significant nerve damage, the pool is the only logical choice. What has your experience been?
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I couldn’t agree more. I switched to water aerobics last year and the ‘buzzing’ in my legs is so much better afterward compared to when I was hiking.
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I still prefer walking, but only with very high-end orthopedic sneakers. If I don’t have the weight-bearing exercise, my bone density drops. It’s a tough balance.
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Does the chlorine ever irritate your skin? My feet are so sensitive that I worry about the chemicals.
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The balance issue is the big one for me. I’ve fallen twice in the last six months just walking on the sidewalk because I couldn’t feel the curb. In the pool, falling isn’t even a possibility. It’s the only place I feel truly safe moving my body at my age.
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Water walking is a great middle ground! You get the resistance without the heavy impact.
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I wish I had a pool nearby. The closest one is a 40-minute drive. For many of us, walking is the only free and accessible option.
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My neurologist actually told me that the ‘afterburn’ from walking is actually good for nerve regeneration. He said the discomfort is the nerves trying to fire. Not sure I believe him when it hurts that bad though!
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I found that the temperature of the water matters most. If the pool is too cold, my feet cramp up instantly. If it’s warm, it’s like heaven.
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I’m 72 and just started swimming laps. Best decision I ever made for my neuropathy.
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I try to do both. Walking for 15 minutes on the grass (softer than pavement) and then a swim. The grass helps with the grounding feeling and the swim cools the nerves back down. It’s about finding what your specific body can handle on a given day.
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That ‘on fire’ feeling after walking is exactly why I stopped. It felt like I was being punished for trying to be healthy.
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Has anyone tried those specialized water shoes? I find that even in the pool, the floor of the pool can be abrasive on my numb toes.
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I use the water shoes every time. They protect from those little scrapes you can’t feel until they start bleeding. Definitely recommend them for the pool.
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Great post. It’s refreshing to hear someone talk about the downside of walking. Everyone acts like it’s a cure-all.
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I find that if I walk in the evening, I can’t sleep. If I swim in the evening, I sleep like a baby. The cooling effect is real.
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This has given me a lot to think about. I’ve been stubborn about my daily walks, but maybe it’s time to check out the local YMCA pool.
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