Why walking correctly is good for you
Warming up and down pre- and post-walking, adopting a good walking technique, along with good posture, can provide many health benefits. Here are some of them:
Preventing injuries and stress to the body
Walking correctly can help you avoid injury by placing less stress and impact on your muscles, tendons, soft tissues, and ligaments in your body. As a result, it can also help you walk faster and for longer, while helping you get fitter in the process.
Increased energy levels
Elongating your spine or standing tall while you walk can help you breathe easier and relieve aches and pains, improving energy levels as a result.
Better circulation
Adopting the right walking technique can keep your body aligned, promoting effective blood circulation to all parts of your body.
Improved digestion
Standing tall supports circulation to your digestive system, helping you better digest the food eaten prior to a walk.
Better balance
Walking can help build lower body strength, and doing so with the right posture can enhance this benefit. Improving your balance is especially pertinent as you age, as it protects you from falling and picking up a nasty injury.
Greater confidence
Improving your walking posture by สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน standing upright can make you look better and boost your confidence. This comes with a host of benefits, including building resilience, and improvements in anxiety and depression over time.
How to walk right
Walking properly takes some fine adjustments and practice. Here are some tips on how to walk correctly, from head to toe.
Warm Up, Cool Down
Incorporate this as part of your routine before and after a walk. Start at a slower pace during the first few minutes of your walk before you pick it up. Cool down by slowing down your pace during the last few minutes.
Keep your head parallel to the ground
Stand tall, keep your chin parallel to the ground and centered between your shoulders. Look straight ahead to help your head maintain this position.
Roll your shoulders
Rolling your shoulders up, back and then down can help you find the right resting position.
Swing your arms naturally
As you walk, let your arms swing naturally. Just ensure you swing from your shoulders and not from your elbows.
Relax your hands
Avoid clenching your hands. Keep them relaxed with palms facing inwards.
Lengthen your back
While walking, stand straight, and elongate your spine by imagining being lifted from the crown of your head, and your body will straighten in the process. You may have realised just how much you were slouching, hunching, leaning forward or backward – all of which should also be corrected.
Pull in your belly, slightly
Guilty of sticking our belly out as you walk? Make it a point to keep your belly pulled in slightly as you stand straight. This can help your abdominal muscles better support the trunk of the body and spine.
Walk with moderate strides
Walking with long strides can cause your knees to hyperextend, which can happen when your calf is pushing backwards to propel you forward. If you are going for a brisk walk and want to cover more ground faster, opt to take more steps, instead of longer strides.
Tread lightly, from heel to toe
Strike the ground with your heel first, then roll through your heel to your toe. Refrain from taking flat-footed steps, or striking the ground with your toes first. You should also keep your steps quiet and avoid putting your foot down with excessive force.