4 walking mistakes that harm your health
Mistakes to avoid while walking (photo: Freepik)
Walking is an accessible and effective way to get in shape. While it is a simple exercise, avoiding common mistakes is essential, as they could do more harm than good, according to the website Eat This, Not That!
Excessive striding
Trainer Cara D'Orazio explained that poor posture, such as slouching or leaning too far forward, can place unnecessary strain on the shoulders, neck, and back. Over time, this habit can affect the spine and reduce the effectiveness of walking exercises.
When you slouch or lean forward, it can lead to back pain, headaches, and fatigue.
Short strides are not a natural walking pattern, and they also hinder the proper activation of the glute muscles.
Uneven arm swing
Walking with an uneven arm swing can disrupt balance and create unwanted tension. An uneven arm swing is often caused by muscle imbalances or carrying a phone or water bottle in one hand, rather than evenly distributing the weight.
This can throw off your balance and put unnecessary strain on the shoulders and upper back.
Heel striking
Landing on the heel instead of the mid-foot creates excessive impact forces that travel through the ankles, knees, and hips. This sudden movement can cause joint inflammation, especially on hard surfaces.
Additionally, an asymmetric gait occurs when you walk with an uneven stride or favor one leg over the other. This can lead to discomfort in the hips, knee pain, and tension in the lower back.
The trainer added that failure to engage the core muscles could lead to poor posture, back pain, and inefficient walking form.
Leaning back
This is a very common habit that causes a person's weight to work against them. Instead of leaning back, the doctor advises slightly leaning forward: you need to slightly "fall" with your torso in the direction of movement, not allowing yourself to do so, while timely bringing your leg forward.
Earlier, we reported on how to lose 10 kilograms without going to the gym.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
