Walking 10,000 steps a day, a myth? Here is the opinion of a physiotherapist

You are browsing the Radio-Canada website

Skip to main contentGo to footerHelp with navigation

Start of main content

Start of content

Interview with Denis Fortier: How many steps should you take per day?

4 minute duration4 min

How many steps do you take each day? PHOTO : Getty Images / David Madison

Do you take your 10,000 steps a day? This threshold has long been adopted as the objective to be reached in order to be in good health. However, the number would be completely arbitrary and nothing more than a marketing stunt to make the promoting the world’s first step counter marketed in the 1960s. All one morningphysiotherapist Denis Fortier points out that 10,000 steps per day is a good number, but that the target is inaccessible for a good part of the population.

During the interview, the author of the book Get up and walk! gives the figure that he thinks should be promoted more. He reminds us that while walking is a good way to take care of your health, it is also important to maintain your cardiorespiratory capacities by doing a little more sustained exercise.