Which activity has a low risk of injury?

• A. Running
• B. Cycling
• C. Swimming
• D. Walking

Answer: (D)

Injury risk in activities largely tracks the amount of impact and repetitive stress placed on the body. Walking is the lowest-risk option because it is a gentle, low-impact movement that keeps forces on joints and tissues small. It also tends to involve steady pace and stable surfaces, reducing the chances of acute strains or falls.

Running subjects the joints to higher impact with each step, which increases the likelihood of overuse injuries like shin splints and knee pain if not trained gradually or with proper footwear and technique. Cycling lowers some risks by being low-impact on the hips and knees, but it introduces potential hazards from falls or crashes and possible overuse from repetitive pedaling. Swimming keeps joints well-supported by buoyancy and is usually low-impact, yet repetitive shoulder motion can lead to overuse injuries for some people, and water safety adds its own considerations.

So, among these, walking tends to have the lowest overall injury risk, making it a safe starting point for many people. If you have balance issues or certain injuries, that risk assessment can shift, but in general walking is the gentlest option.