A lot of people experience constant pain in various parts of the body. Some ignore the pain, others take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory’s or various other drugs for relief. In many cases, it is a result of improper foot biomechanics. Note, your feet act as the foundation of the rest of the body. Any problems that you might be having with your feet can change how you walk or stand, which could in turn cause problems with the alignment of the rest of your body.
Walk Properly with the Right Posture
Do you pay attention to how you walk? Embracing good posture can come in handy in supporting the rest of your body by helping in:
- Aligning your joints and bones properly
- Supporting balance and stability
- Reducing wear and tear in your ligaments, muscles, and joints
- Lowering the risk of injuries
- Preventing hip, leg, neck, and back pain
While involving the right technique in walking should not be hard, it requires you to be aware of how you move. In this article, find out how you can walk properly, and how feet alignment affects posture.
How to Walk Correctly
Walking involves the whole of your body. Therefore, while you walk, pay attention to each part. Here are a few tips:
1. Keep your head held up
Your chin should be parallel while walking, and your ears adjacent to the shoulders. Do not drop your head to the chest as you walk.
2. Keep your Core Engaged
The muscles of your core are designed to help you move more steadily and easily. As you walk, pull in your belly button towards your spine to maintain stability and balance.
3. Lengthen your Back
Rather than leaning forward, slouching or hunching, lengthen your spine. Otherwise, you could stress your back.
4. Swing your Arms
While walking, swing your arms back and forth by your sides in a gentle motion. This activity should be done from the shoulders and not the elbows.
5. Maintain a Heel to Toe Gait
Make each step from the heel to the toe. It means striking the ground with your heel first and not the toes.
The Impact of Feet Alignment on Posture
The alignment of your feet is directly linked to the shape of your spine. Should they be improperly aligned, you may be more prone to injury. Over-pronation and flat feet are examples of these issues. Poor biomechanics on your feet can eventually trigger knee or back pain. This is why proper alignment is crucial to your overall health. Here are few ways to achieve it:
1. Get a Gaitscan of your feet
How you walk is what is referred to as gait. Eventualities like arthritis and birth defects can cause an abnormal gait, which if left untreated could affect your health. Gaitscan is one of the most innovative diagnostic tools can be used to analyse your biomechanics.
2. Do Foot Exercises
Proper alignment can be achieved through foot exercises, which can be performed at home. Most involve holding the arch and arching the feet. Try out Mountain, a type of exercises done in yoga. This will incredibly improve alignment. In physiotherapy, you will be exposed to specific strength-based exercises, ones that will suit your postural needs.
3. Wear Orthotic Insoles/Shoes
If you are suffering from foot, lower limb or back pain, our physiotherapists may prescribe orthotics for you. However, in most situations, we would first ask you to get a Gaitscan to understand the full biomechanics of your feet, and then prescribe a custom-made orthotic product for you.
While there are many difficult causes to address, one of the toughest is habitual motion patterns. Be wary of how you sit in your chair, walk and exercise to ensure your posture is not negatively affected.
Book in for your FREE Gaitscan foot assessment today by calling 02 9144 1510 where our friendly and helpful reception team will assist you in getting the most convenient time that suits you.
