Walking is an excellent form of exercise
Walking improves cardiovascular health, strengthens bones, boosts mood, aids in weight management, enhances balance and coordination, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and promotes mental clarity. To get maximum benefits from walking, avoid these mistakes.
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Looking down
Looking down at the ground while walking can cause neck strain and swelling. Always keep your head straight ahead to maintain proper alignment. Looking down while walking can cause other problems like eye strain, and trip hazard as well.
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Skipping rest days
It is essential to give your body proper time to rest and recover to prevent burnout. Incorporating rest days into your walking routine would help your muscles to heal and rebuild and in promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
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Skipping proper meals
Skipping a nutritious meal can lead to low energy levels, and decreased performance during walking or any other physical activity.
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Ignoring pain
Ignoring signs of fatigue and discomfort during the walk can lead to serious health issues. Always listen to your body and take breaks as needed. It is essential to address pain to prevent long-term consequences and promote overall health and well-being.
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Overstriding
Taking overly long steps can put strain on muscles and joints, leading to fatigue. It can also negatively impact your walking form, leading to muscle imbalances, and an increased risk of injury, particularly to the knees, hips, and lower back.
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Not Using Arms
One should always swing their arms while walking instead of just letting them hang. Swinging arms could improve balance and make the walk more efficient. It engages more muscles, promotes better posture, and can even reduce stress by promoting a sense of flow and rhythm.
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Not Warming Up
Skipping a proper warm up before walking may increase the risk of muscle strain. A good warm-up before any physical activity can help in improving flexibility, increasing blood flow, enhancing muscle performance, and reducing the risk of injury.
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Not Hydrating
Not drinking enough water during the walk may lead to immense dehydration and ultimately degrade your performance, increasing the risk of heatstroke. Dehydration can have various other harmful effects on the body including muscle cramps, and kidney problems.
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Incorrect Footwear
Choosing footwear that doesn’t provide proper support and doesn’t fit properly can lead to blisters, foot pain, joint strain, poor alignment, and an increased risk of injury. Wearing shoes that don’t provide stability can increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
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Poor Posture
People often walk with tense shoulders or a hunched back, which could lead to muscle soreness and a hunched back. A poor posture can also cause breathing difficulties, digestive issues, headaches, and fatigue throughout the day.
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Common Walking Mistakes
Walking seems like a simple exercise, but is often done incorrectly, leading to potential harmful outcomes. Here are the 10 most common walking mistakes made by people:
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