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9 Tips to Perfect Your Walking Form

Perfect form is key to avoiding pain and injuries! Read this article from ACE Fitness by Michele Stanten about good walking form.

Good posture will make it easier to go the distance. Here are some posture pointers for stronger striding during your next walk.

Tip #1: Stand up tall. Imagine that a wire attached to the crown of your head is gently pulling you upward. Walking erect will keep you moving at a brisker pace.

Tip #2: Keep your eyes on the horizon. This will help you to stand taller and avoid stress on your neck and low back.

Tip #3: Lift your chest and tighten your abs. Using muscles in the front of your body to straighten up will take pressure off your back.

Tip #4: Bend your arms. You’ll be able to swing your arms faster, which helps increase your speed. It also prevents swelling caused from blood pooling in your hands as you walk longer distances.

Tip #5: Relax your shoulders. Your arms will swing more freely, and you’ll avoid upper back and neck tension.

Tip #6: Maintain a neutral pelvis. Don’t tuck your tailbone under or overarch your back.

Tip #7: Keep your front leg straight but not locked. You’ll have a smoother stride and be able to propel yourself forward more easily.

Tip #8: Aim your knees and toes forward. Proper alignment will reduce your chances of injury.

Tip #9: Land on your heel. This facilitates the heel-to-toe walking motion that will carry farther and faster than if your foot slaps down on the ground with each step.

That may seem like a lot to think about, but you don’t have to do it all at once. Start from the top of the list and focus on one tip at a time. Pay attention to this area of your body at the beginning of your walk, and then periodically check about every 15 to 20 minutes (don’t constantly focus on it) to see if you’re maintaining good posture. If not, simply get back in alignment. Do this for about a week and then move onto the next tip. Some changes may happen quickly while others may take some time to become habit.

Walking coach Michele Stanten is the author of Firm Up in 3 Weeks and Walk Off Weight, co-author of Walk Your Butt Off, and creator of mywalkingcoach.com. As the former Fitness Director of Prevention magazine, she created a marathon walking program and coached thousands of readers to walk full and half marathons. Michele has also created walking and fitness programs for leading brands and organizations such as Avon and Reader’s Digest. She is also an ACE board member, ACE-certified group fitness instructor, and member of the Every Body Walk Collaborative. Michele has also produced and appeared in more than a dozen exercise DVDs and created numerous walking audio workouts.

Workplace Wellness

A lot of us have to work, but how can we stay healthy while on the job? Take a look at this article from MoveForwardPT in order to help improve your posture and mobility at work! If you’d like to see a physical therapist today, come visit San Diego Sports Physical Therapy in Liberty Station!

Working at a computer work station all day can take a toll on the body. Repetitive activities and lack of mobility can contribute to aches, pains, and eventual injuries.

Sitting at a desk while using the keyboard for hours on a day to day basis can result in poor circulation to joints and muscles, it can also create an imbalance in strength and flexibility of certain muscles, and muscle strain. These issues can be easily remedied by taking frequent short breaks, or “micro breaks,” throughout your day.

Get out of your chair several times a day and move around—even for 30 seconds
Roll your shoulders backwards
Turn your head side to side
Stretch out your forearms and your legs

Additionally, specific guidelines for your work station can help maximize your comfort and safety.
Your chair should have the following:

Wheels (5 for better mobility)
The ability to twist freely on its base
Adjustable height
Adjustable arm rests that will allow you to sit close to your desk
Lumbar support
Seat base that adjusts to a comfortable angle and allows you to sit up straight

The position of the keyboard is critical:

The keyboard should be at a height that allows you to have your forearms slightly below a horizontal line—or your elbows at slightly more than a 90 degree angle.
You should be able to slide your knees under the keyboard tray or desk.
Avoid reaching for the keyboard by extending your arms or raising your shoulders.
Try to avoid having the keyboard on top of your desk. That is too high for almost everyone—unless you can raise your seat. The elbow angle is the best test of keyboard position.

The position of your computer monitor is important:

The monitor should be directly in front of you.
The top of the monitor should be at your eye level, and at a distance where you can see it clearly without squinting, or leaning forward or backward.
If you need glasses for reading, you may need to have a special pair for use at your computer to avoid tipping your head backward to see through bi-focals or other types of reading glasses.

How can a physical therapist help?

Many physical therapists are experts at modifying work stations to increase efficiency and prevent or relieve pain. Additionally, if you are experiencing pain that isn’t relieved by modifications to your work station, you should see a physical therapist who can help develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain and improve your mobility.

Here are a couple of exercises you can do right at your desk!

Desk Exercises

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9 Tips to Perfect Your Walking Form

Workplace Wellness

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