Can hiking twice a week improve fitness in older adults?

Hiking twice a week for three months improved fitness and lowered signs of inflammation in a small study of older adults. Outside reported on a study published in Scientific Reports. It followed 34 South Korean adults ages 66 to 78. They had previously been inactive. Their routine involved Hiking in a forest for 120 minutes, twice weekly. Researchers compared them with a group that did no physical activity. The hikers lost body fat and gained Muscle Mass (Lean Mass). Their bodies also became better at using oxygen during exercise. The article did not give exact sizes for these changes. Blood tests showed lower signs of inflammation and more interleukin-12. This protein helps switch on immune cells that destroy infected or abnormal cells. Still, these blood changes do not prove lasting immune benefits. The study leaves that question open. For the Outdoor Walking community, the key detail is the routine: long forest outings over three months. This was not a test of short neighborhood walks. It also cannot show whether the forest itself added benefits beyond exercise. The comparison group was inactive, rather than exercising elsewhere. Members tracking their own habits could compare weekly outing time and route difficulty. Distance — Walking/Running can add useful context alongside bloodwork and notes about how familiar routes feel. Sharing those details makes community comparisons more meaningful than comparing one result alone. Personal trends can start a conversation without proving what caused a change. What changes have you noticed in your numbers or stamina during a regular outdoor routine?