We often see retirement as the time when we can finally slow down, but new research may suggest the opposite is true if you want to reach a healthy old age. So lets see what we can do to get more people outside .

They found that pensioners who were able to walk more and at a slightly faster than normal pace actually lowered the risk of a heart attack by a little over 10%. So rather than accepting a more sedentary way of life once you retire, those over 65 who maintain or even increase their physical activity can actually improve their heart’s overall health.

The study of almost 1,000 pensioners, with an average age of 71, was undertaken by the Harvard School of Public Health in the USA. They found that those participants who took the most exercise had a reduced chance of heart attack than those who did the least. It was noted that any physical activity was better than none at all, but maintaining or increasing the activity still added benefits as you grow older.

Over the course of five years the researchers recorded heart monitor readings from the participants and found that those who walked more and did more leisure activities had fewer heart rhythms that could be classed as irregular and showed a greater heart rate variability than those who were less active. Heart rate variability is differences in the time between one heartbeat and the next during everyday life.

So next time you are planning your walk, why not alter it, making it a little easier and seeing how your grandparents can get involved. There are numerous walks across the UK that are suitable for all ages. Treat your granddad or grandma to a pair of walking shoes and see how they can join in with more family activities. You might consider them over the hill, but given a chance they just might beat you to the top of the next one.