How You Walk Affects Your Lower Limbs – Here’s Why

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sean Leo

MBBS MRCS (Edin) MMed (Ortho) FRCSEd (Ortho) Orthopaedic

Generally speaking, walking is good for you. Discover & share this Walking GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

Despite that, sometimes we experience weird aches and pain in places where we typically shouldn’t.

There are a variety of reasons for this, many of which can be corrected simply by making minor changes to your habits.

Walking involves more than just your legs and feet. Lower limbs provide support to the entire body while walking.

Let’s take a look at how lower limbs may be affecting by walking.

Undue Stress

If you’re transitioning from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one, it is best to ease yourself into it.

Your body may simply not be used to any form of activity, and you should be wary of overdoing it.

Pushing yourself too hard may cause undue stress, which may cause inflammation at the joints.

Wear and Tear

Walking is considered an activity with moderate intensity. However, if you’re not careful, you may end up overworking your lower limbs, causing wear and tear.

Walking uses the same muscles and joints repetitively, resulting in undue continuous stress on the bones, such as a shin burn.

To prevent such injuries, invest in exercise shoes with proper cushioning and adequate arch support.

In the event where such injuries cannot be prevented, it is important to discuss it with a trained professional.

Always make sure to consult a qualified Orthopaedic surgeon if you encounter any discomfort when walking.