How to walk correctly?

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Walking is a daily activity, but do you know if you walk correctly and if you have a good posture? These are very important aspects because walking well is a synonym of health. Walking is a low impact exercise that is very good for the body, but you should try to walk in the right way so you don’t damage your back or any other muscle or joint while doing daily activities.

How to walk correctly

Daily walking is one of the most recommended exercises for health to keep the body active and dynamic. Some of its benefits are that it can help fight stress, depression and can burn calories. But to reap the benefits of a good walk, you must follow a series of steps that will help you do it right. You should start by taking steps in a relaxed manner, letting your movements be flexible, natural and not too big.

Good posture must be acquired in order to walk correctly. Although each person has its own style, you should always walk straight and upright. Posture is fundamental to walk well and not to damage the back or other organs or muscles. Many times negative walking habits are acquired and it can be a real health problem in the future. So when you walk you should have your head upright, your back straight and your chin looking up. If you are able to maintain that posture, your spine will be straight and at the same time pressure will be taken off your diaphragm for better breathing. Every time you walk, be aware of your posture, because having a bad posture could be very common and harmful.

You should always use your legs when walking, although it may seem obvious you should work your hamstrings, quads and calves to make your steps efficient. A healthy way to walk is to use all your leg muscles. When you walk, try to visualize your whole body in motion, this will make your muscles work as a team, from your heel to your thighs. And you will be able to keep your feet at the proper angle for each step.

When walking you should also pay attention to your shoulders. Although the most important movements when walking are those of the legs and trunk, the posture of the upper body is also important. Keep your shoulders back and relaxed, try to keep your spine stable and straight when walking. This will minimize the pressure on your back when walking and prevent future injuries. In addition to having a great, healthy posture, you will project strength and confidence with every step.

Another body part you should never forget is your arms. You should swing them while walking. Although it is supposed to be a natural movement of the body, if this is not your case let your arms hang spontaneously and without stiffness. Your arms should swing in rhythm with your steps. And so you will make them effective, walking with the maximum of your energy. Do not put your hands in your pocket, you should always have your arms around your body and balanced, so you will walk faster and get less tired.

Benefits of walking correctly

  • Leading an active life has a protective effect on brain functions, regular exercise reduces the risk of dementia by up to 40%, and significantly improves memory.

  • Walking stimulates and strengthen the bones, increasing their density, which is very important especially for older people. It also helps maintain joint health, reducing the onset of diseases such as arthritis.

  • Walking outdoors increases your stores of vitamin D, a nutrient that is difficult to obtain from food, but can be synthesized through exposure to sunlight. It is a nutrient that plays a critical role in many processes in the body, from bone health to the immune system.

Risks of not walking correctly

When this young man walks, a trunk translation to the left was observed. This generates a muscular imbalance, where the left side is weakened and therefore can cause an injury. Because of this, he suffered acute pain in the left piriformis muscle, which affected his development at sports (soccer) and activities of daily life. It is important to have a postural assessment and to know if everything is moving well on a daily basis.

Walking is undoubtedly an activity of daily life, around the day hundreds of steps are walked. Therefore, it is important to do it correctly to reduce the risk of suffering any injury or discomfort. Following these tips and performing a postural assessment can help you in your daily life. If you suspect that you do not maintain a good walking position, you can schedule an evaluation with a specialist.

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Walking is a daily activity, but do you know if you walk correctly and if you have a good posture? These are very important aspects because walking well is a synonym of health. Walking is a low impact exercise that is very good for the body, but you should try to walk in the right way so you don’t damage your back or any other muscle or joint while doing daily activities.

How to walk correctly

Daily walking is one of the most recommended exercises for health to keep the body active and dynamic. Some of its benefits are that it can help fight stress, depression and can burn calories. But to reap the benefits of a good walk, you must follow a series of steps that will help you do it right. You should start by taking steps in a relaxed manner, letting your movements be flexible, natural and not too big.

Good posture must be acquired in order to walk correctly. Although each person has its own style, you should always walk straight and upright. Posture is fundamental to walk well and not to damage the back or other organs or muscles. Many times negative walking habits are acquired and it can be a real health problem in the future. So when you walk you should have your head upright, your back straight and your chin looking up. If you are able to maintain that posture, your spine will be straight and at the same time pressure will be taken off your diaphragm for better breathing. Every time you walk, be aware of your posture, because having a bad posture could be very common and harmful.

You should always use your legs when walking, although it may seem obvious you should work your hamstrings, quads and calves to make your steps efficient. A healthy way to walk is to use all your leg muscles. When you walk, try to visualize your whole body in motion, this will make your muscles work as a team, from your heel to your thighs. And you will be able to keep your feet at the proper angle for each step.

When walking you should also pay attention to your shoulders. Although the most important movements when walking are those of the legs and trunk, the posture of the upper body is also important. Keep your shoulders back and relaxed, try to keep your spine stable and straight when walking. This will minimize the pressure on your back when walking and prevent future injuries. In addition to having a great, healthy posture, you will project strength and confidence with every step.

Another body part you should never forget is your arms. You should swing them while walking. Although it is supposed to be a natural movement of the body, if this is not your case let your arms hang spontaneously and without stiffness. Your arms should swing in rhythm with your steps. And so you will make them effective, walking with the maximum of your energy. Do not put your hands in your pocket, you should always have your arms around your body and balanced, so you will walk faster and get less tired.

Benefits of walking correctly

  • Leading an active life has a protective effect on brain functions, regular exercise reduces the risk of dementia by up to 40%, and significantly improves memory.

  • Walking stimulates and strengthen the bones, increasing their density, which is very important especially for older people. It also helps maintain joint health, reducing the onset of diseases such as arthritis.

  • Walking outdoors increases your stores of vitamin D, a nutrient that is difficult to obtain from food, but can be synthesized through exposure to sunlight. It is a nutrient that plays a critical role in many processes in the body, from bone health to the immune system.

Risks of not walking correctly

When this young man walks, a trunk translation to the left was observed. This generates a muscular imbalance, where the left side is weakened and therefore can cause an injury. Because of this, he suffered acute pain in the left piriformis muscle, which affected his development at sports (soccer) and activities of daily life. It is important to have a postural assessment and to know if everything is moving well on a daily basis.

Walking is undoubtedly an activity of daily life, around the day hundreds of steps are walked. Therefore, it is important to do it correctly to reduce the risk of suffering any injury or discomfort. Following these tips and performing a postural assessment can help you in your daily life. If you suspect that you do not maintain a good walking position, you can schedule an evaluation with a specialist.

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