Postural errors influence the way you walk. The risks? Contractures, back pain, knee pain, hip pain, wear and tear on the knee and most joints
Walking is beneficial for our body and mind, a simple activity that should be a mandatory habit for every human being, but we have to be careful with the postures we adapt when walking.
Walking and the spine
The action of walking is a natural movement, so if there is no good coordination and you make a mistake in the support of the foot, you can suffer from contractures, back pain, knee pain, hip wear, tendonitis and talalgia, among other ailments.
The objective when walking, or in general when practising a sports activity, is to maintain the position of the spine in a neutral position, i.e. respecting its physiological curves.
In this way, the spine performs its cushioning function correctly, protecting the nervous system.
Therefore, in order to have a correct posture while walking, the head, back and pelvis must be aligned, but what if I have already injured myself? How can I correct these problems? We explain how.
It’s possible to correct these bad postures through Chiropractic
Adapting an incorrect posture for months or years can lead to postural dysfunction, vertebral and joint displacements or pelvic tilt. In fact, bad postural habits cause the muscles to shorten and contract in one direction and lengthen too much in the other. It is therefore necessary to reprogramme and realign the body so that the spine, muscles, tendons and ligaments are in balance.
The chiropractor intervenes at the joint and neurological level, eliminating the interferences that prevents you from moving correctly, so that the nervous system independently establishes the correct posture.
This mainly affects the spinal column, which contains the spinal cord, thus improving the function of the central nervous system.
The posture, in fact, is influenced by the information sent from the brain to the paravertebral muscles, i.e. the muscles that control the vertebrae and define our alignment.
How to walk with correct posture
A correct alignment of the spine. Align your head, shoulders and pelvis. Imagine a line running from the ear, through the centre of the shoulder and the head of the femur.
Correct foot support when walking. The foot plays a very important role. In fact, it governs almost all the movements made by the legs, pelvis, trunk, arms and shoulders in the course of the walking action. The nerve endings stimulated during stepping turn the foot into a postural organ and a sensor and informer of the brain.
A misalignment, a displacement of some of the bones of the foot can also affect the tread.
First of all, the heel must be supported, then the sole of the foot and finally the toe, in a wave-like movement.
Chiropractic treatment is an effective way to break the vicious circle of poor posture.
When we aquire an incorrect posture when walking, our muscles tend to stiffen and contract. This can lead to joint or vertebral spinal friction and wear and tear instead of gliding as they should.
Consequently, it can restrict movement and cause nerve irritation perpetuating the vicious cycle.
Your Doctor of Chiropractic can break this cycle through chiropractic adjustment, as well as recommend techniques and procedures to re-educate your natural posture.