How does hill walking boost your workout? Robert Sherman, a Reebok Master Trainer and a walking expert in Bethesda, Maryland, explains that walking on an incline is great for power and strength. "Walking uphill puts a greater demand on the body," he says, "because you're creating a bigger stretch in the ankle joint, and you're increasing the amount of angle in the ankle." This increases the muscular demand, which, in turn, helps to build muscle and increase the overall strength in your legs.

Hill walking can also save you time. "Instead of walking for a longer period of time, walk uphill to increase your effort and workout intensity," says Sherman. "You can still have a tough workout, but you won't have to train as long as you would on a flat surface to get the same fitness benefits." When you initially begin adding hills to your route, build slowly, adding more inclines as you require increased resistance.

On the flip side, walking on a decline is great for increasing your speed, Sherman says. "Declines force you to take quicker steps, so your turnover increases and you're taking more steps per minute," he says. "Your body has to learn a new motor pattern to accommodate the downhill motion. It has to learn to control each step. Ultimately, this will help you to go faster." Sherman says that once your muscles know how to turn over faster on the downhill, they can do it on flat surfaces and inclines as well. "The faster you walk, the more calories you're going to burn." Sherman warns that you shouldn't go too fast, too soon."If you start slapping your feet on the decline, it's time to slow down," he says.

Regardless of whether you're walking on an incline or decline, the key to walking strength is in your torso. "If you don't focus on posture and on having a strong center, your success will be limited, and you'll potentially put yourself at risk for injury."

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