We rarely think about the way we walk. However, as a result of injury or poor posture, we may actually be walking incorrectly. Injuries, especially those sustained at an early age but have not been addressed properly, cause many walking anomalies, says an expert. This is because, after an injury, muscles on one side will be used more to support the body, leading to overuse and an increased likelihood of other injuries, adds a certified pilates and gyrotonic instructor.
So. to avoid such discomfort and pain, improve the way you walk with these tips:
1. Mind Your Standing Posture
Research from the US shows that the natural design of our bodies makes walking seem effortless. Proper walking posture would be a balanced position in which the head and torso are in a vertical alignment, as the legs take stride to move the body in any direction. Imagine a plumb line running along the side of the body from the middle of the ear to the bony edge of the shoulder and then the side seam of your pants, says an expert.
2. Correct Bad Walking Posture Early
Some examples of poor walking postures include slouching, leaning to one side, as well as over- and under-pronating (supinating) of the feet. These can be caused by factors such as weakness of muscles in the feet, lower leg or even in the hip. A restriction in the ankle joint can also affect foot alignment, says an expert.
Common problems arising from incorrect walking include lower-back pain and knee injuries, says an expert. The knee is the largest joint in the body. It bears up to four times our weight when we run. The hip and the ankle also commonly affected by sports injuries.
3. Change Your Gait
Getting out of the habit of walking poorly does not have to be a painful. Experts have developed many ways of correcting the body’s alignment of the body, depending on the severity the condition. These include specially designed shoes which promote proper alignment and balance of the joints. Another approach is to strengthen the weaker areas of body through exercises such as gyrotonic or pilates. These work one side of the body at a time.
10 minutes working on the other. Over time, as your weaker side strengthens, and as you cultivate the habit, you’ll be able to comfortably depend on both sides.
Retraining your body and rehabilitating injured or weakened areas will take time. So, depending on your goal, you just need to get into the right programme – and stick to it. For example, exercises to strengthen the problem areas are a must even when you are using orthotics. Otherwise, the symptoms will return if you remove the orthotics.
