Have you noticed how you walk?
Walking is something that most of us take for granted. From the moment we take our first steps, we tend to walk without thinking about how. It is often not until we encounter pain or an injury that we start to consider how we move.
The way we move can be a significant contributor to pain and is something that can be changed with awareness and training.
A few weeks ago, Courtney, Alicea and I completed the Sunshine Coast leg of the Bloody Long Walk, walking 35km to raise funds for the Mitochondrial Foundation. We laughed about how we should have recorded changes in our gait (walking pattern) from the first kilometre to the last. That last stretch to the finish line can best be described as a bent-over shuffle.
When walking patterns change
But what if you notice that it is becoming difficult to walk, or that your walking pattern is changing without you being able to control it. What can you do?
Last week I had a delightful woman see me for a physiotherapy consult for this exact issue. She had noticed over the past few months that when she walked she had to “waddle”.
Her left leg could not lift in front of her as well as the right, so she had to hitch her hips as she walked. This was worrying her as she lives independently and it was contributing to low back pain.
We assessed her gait, checked that her hip joints were able to move in all ranges of movement, excluded any signs of injury and concluded that she had become weak in the muscles that flexed her hip forward.
She now understands that she is not injured and can improve her movement simply by strengthening the muscles by doing exercises at home. She is also joining our Balance and Bones Class to work on her strength, balance and walking pattern in a safe and supervised way.
Why are changes in walking patterns important to address?
If a movement is becoming difficult, most of us simply stop trying to do it. If you start to reduce your activity and walking, you may risk losing your ability to walk safely and independently. Being proactive about maintaining movement is so much easier than trying to regain it once lost!
Changes in movement patterns can indicate underlying injury. Our brains are smart and will try to protect anything that causes pain. By addressing what has caused a change in movement, we can start the recovery process.
Changes in movement can start to cause increased load on other areas of your body. A modified walking pattern can start to cause increased load on other joints, the lower back or feet.
The good news is that it is never too late! You can improve your movement in so many simple ways. If you have any concerns regarding your movement, call us for a Physiotherapy consult on 5337 9853 and start your recovery today.