Featured Image Credit: Lionsgate
Topics: Stephen King, Health, Fitness, Film and TV, Horror, Science
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Stephen King, Health, Fitness, Film and TV, Horror, Science
A doctor has broken down exactly what would happen to your body if you walked at three miles per hour, for 24 hours.
It comes as Stephen King's latest movie adaptation, The Long Walk, releases in theaters this week.
The movie, directed by The Hunger Games' Francis Lawrence, transports us to a dystopian version of the US, where a totalitarian regime governs all 50 states.
Each year, 100 teenage boys are selected to participate in a contest where they must keep a steady pace of at least three miles per hour for the longest time possible. If they drop below that speed, then after three warnings they are 'ticketed'.
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In other words, brutally taken out on the spot by armed soldiers.
In the original book - penned by King as a college freshman - the contestants had to walk at four miles per hour.
But even the King of Horror himself thought that too torturous and decided to lower it to three miles per hour for the film.
Even so, walking constantly at such speed can take its toll on the body.
Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, explained to UNILAD exactly what it would do to you - and it's not a pretty picture.
"Walking at a steady three miles per hour is a moderate pace for most people and perfectly sustainable for an hour or two," Dr Wylie begins.
"However, attempting to maintain this continuously for 24 hours would push the body well beyond safe physiological limits."
Here's exactly what would happen...
The first and most immediate concern would be hydration.
"Even at a walking pace, the body loses significant amounts of fluid through sweat and respiration, particularly if the environment is warm or humid," Dy Wylie explains.
"Without frequent fluid intake and electrolyte replacement, dehydration would quickly set in, leading to dizziness, headaches, impaired concentration, and ultimately collapse if severe."
From a musculoskeletal perspective, the leg and hip muscles would undergo extreme strain.
Overuse injuries, such as tendonitis, shin splints, and severe muscle fatigue, would almost be inevitable.
"The hips, knees and ankles would bear the brunt of the continuous impact, and even well-conditioned athletes would likely develop pain, swelling, and inflammation after many hours," Dr Wylie adds.
"Blisters and skin breakdown would also be major limiting factors, as prolonged friction in footwear can lead to open wounds, infection and significant disability."
Dr Wylie warns one of the most dangerous complications would be rhabdomyolysis.
This occurs when muscle fibres break down from extreme exertion, releasing proteins like myoglobin into the bloodstream.
"In large amounts, these proteins can overwhelm the kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure, electrolyte disturbances, and potentially life-threatening complications," Dr Wylie adds.
"Walking non-stop for 24 hours would place an individual at very high risk of this, especially if dehydration is also present, as the kidneys would be under double strain."
Other serious risks include hypoglycaemia - low blood sugar - if calorie intake does not match energy expenditure.
Symptoms of low blood sugar can include feeling hungry, dizzy, sweating and having blurred vision.
Severely low blood sugar could cause seizures or knock people unconscious.
Cardiovascular strain is also a worrying risk, particularly in individuals with underlying heart disease.
"Sleep deprivation over such a prolonged effort would also cause confusion, poor coordination, and impaired judgement, making injury more likely," Dr Wylie adds.
"In short, while the idea makes for a dramatic plot, the reality is that very few people could sustain 3mph for 24 hours without suffering significant, and potentially fatal, consequences.
"The body is simply not designed for such continuous exertion without rest, nutrition, and fluid replacement."
The Long Walk debuts in theaters on Friday September 12.