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Walking Mistakes To Avoid: Walking is a great simple activity that has impressive health benefits. Often overlooked as exercise, walking helps in burning calories, keeps your heart healthy and helps in weight management. Regular walks can be extremely helpful in managing blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It is a heart-healthy exercise that lets you engage your full body as a part of cardio exercise. But even when walking, certain mistakes can make your efforts go in vain. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid while walking to take full advantage of a walking workout and maintain overall health.

Watch the video below about why walking is great for health: 

Walking Mistakes To Avoid

1. Place And Time

The first common mistake that we make while walking is place and time. In certain situations, you may just prefer to walk inside your house, in a garden or natural open space. Choose an open space with a good source of natural light such as a roadside, beach, park or garden and make sure the place is safe. Avoid going on a walk on busy streets, and prefer to walk in a firm space so that it is easy for you to carry yourself. Also, keep in mind the time that you go for walking. Air pollution data show that air pollution in cities is at peak around 7 AM and pollution reduces when the Sun comes out.

ALSO READ: Expert Lists Surprising Benefits Of 30-Mins Walk Post Meals | Blood Sugar Control To Weight Loss

2. What To Wear

The clothes and shoes that you wear while walking should be extremely comfortable. Your walking shoes should be light in weight, and provide support and grip to your feet while walking. If the soles of your shoes do not bend and you can’t twist them, then they are too swift for a walking workout.

3. What To Do Before And After Walking

Mistakes To Avoid While Walking (Image Credits: Freepik)

One of the major mistakes we commit is with things we do before and after walking. You should drink water 15-20 minutes before you begin to walk. Drinking too much water while walking can harm your system and disturb the water-salt balance of the body. Do not indulge in working immediately after a walk. Give your body enough time to rest and relax post-walking.

4. How To Walk

Walking with an incorrect posture is linked to various health conditions such as back, knee and ankle pain. Always walk with your spine pulled up straight and your chin uplifted slightly. Never walk with a slouched posture as it does not facilitate full breathing and restricts the free flow of air in the lungs.

ALSO READ: 6 Heart-Healthy Habits Every Woman Should Adopt In Her 30s

5. Taking Longer Strides

Taking longer strides during walking can put more pressure on your feet than normal, which can further affect your knees and ankles. When you try to walk faster, a natural inclination is to lengthen your stride with the foot you place forward, this leads to striking hard with the feet. Do, if trying to walk fast, prefer to take shorter and quicker steps.

 

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)