8 Tips To Walk Better

Jul 11, 2022 · 4

In today's fast-paced and sedentary lifestyle, the importance of physical activity cannot be stressed enough. Among the many options, walking has emerged as a timeless and accessible form of exercise that offers numerous benefits to both physical and mental health. However, even though we have been walking for decades, most of us will benefit from a quick evaluation of our walking habits.

Here are some simple tips you can use to improve your walking to stay safe and get the most out of your steps!

Improve Your Walking

Choose the Right Footwear

When you want to go for a walk more frequently, it's extremely important that you choose the proper footwear. Many shoes are not suitable for walking. To prevent soreness in your feet or blisters, select the appropriate footwear. One of the best choices is to buy a pair of hiking boots. These are made especially for walking. They will give you more than enough support during your walk and are comfortable to wear for long periods. If you don't want to wear hiking boots, you could always opt for a pair of firm sneakers that are comfortable to walk in for a long time.
Stretch Before and After

Many people underestimate the effect that walking has on us and forget one of the most important parts of a good walk: stretching. With other workouts, people realize how important it is to stretch, but stretching before and after your walk can be just as crucial. Maybe you still believe that stretching is only important for your flexibility, but stretching is necessary to ensure your muscles aren't stiff and are adequately warmed up. To prevent injuries and make you feel better during your walk, you should stretch before and after your walk. Click here to learn about five great stretches!
During your walk, it's easy to start staring at the ground to better see where you're walking. Although this is understandable, it's important that you keep looking forward during your walk. By keeping your head up during the walk, you will have a better posture, which will prevent any injuries in your back or neck, for example. You will still be able to see the road in front of you, so there is no need to keep dropping your head down while you're walking.
Stay Hydrated

Everybody knows that it's essential to stay hydrated during a workout, but did you know that it's important during your walk as well? Make sure you stay hydrated before, during, and after your walk. You can do this easily by taking a reusable water bottle with you. Click here to learn more tips to stay hydrated all day!
Keep Standing Upright

Many people tend to slouch during their walk, but you shouldn't do this. By not standing upright during your walk, you will put a lot more strain on your back, which can cause your back to ache the next day(s). Therefore, you need to make sure you keep your back upright while you're walking. When doing this, also make sure your spine is elongated to avoid a strain on your back.
Step Heel to Toe

Walking seems easy, but not everybody always does it correctly. When you're walking, it can be easy to stop paying attention to how you're walking exactly, which can cause you to walk incorrectly. It's important to keep stepping heel to toe during your walk because it is easier on your feet and safer when it comes to injuries. Make sure your steps aren't flat-footed and that you're not striking the ground with your toes first and then the rest of your foot.

So if you want to improve your walking, you should hit the ground with your heel first and then roll towards your toes through your heels. This way, you can also push out the step with your toes, which is better for your feet and legs.
Keep Your Shoulders Back

When it comes to your posture during walking, you should also pay attention to your shoulders because these are crucial for a good posture. They shouldn't be tense or hunched forward but instead, be kept back and down. If your shoulders are tight or hunched forward, you could strain your muscles and joints in your shoulders, upper back, and neck. You could do a few things to ensure you have the right posture with your shoulders while you're walking.

First, you should make sure your shoulders are relaxed and loose. You can check this regularly by shrugging your shoulders from time to time during your walk and ensuring they are truly relaxed and placed in the proper position. You can also put them in the correct position in the first place by first bringing your shoulders up high and then letting them drop and relaxing them. This can release the tension you had in them and give your shoulders a natural position.
Swing Your Arms

While walking, some people also tend to keep their arms stiffly next to their bodies, but you shouldn't do this. Instead, swing your arms during your walk. They can swing back and forth next to your body in a calm manner without it looking weird. However, when doing this, it is important to make your arms swing from your shoulders and not from your elbows. You also shouldn't swing your arms too high; instead, you should try to keep them around your midsection. Your arms also shouldn't swing across your body but simply at your sides.