Walk Your Way to Better Health!

However, as Dennie C. discovered, you need to start out slowly.
"As we age, many people start to lose their ability to move," says physiotherapist Cathy Simon. "Walking is an excellent activity to maintain and improve mobility as well as overall health. It can give your arms, legs and heart a great workout. To prevent injuries, start slow and pace yourself. Make sure you take time for a proper warm up such as stretching and cool down."

Aches, pains, sprains, and sometimes even a fracture can result from improper positioning of the body, overuse of specific muscle groups, poor walking technique and pushing ourselves to walk longer than we should.

Here are five S.M.A.R.T tips from the Canadian Physiotherapy Association to help you get the most out of walking:

STRETCH - Stretching as a warm up and a cool down is vital to every walking program. Keep muscles flexible and relaxed, joints mobile, and relieve tension and strain by doing a few gentle stretches before and after your walk. Important areas to stretch are the neck, shoulders, arms, low back and spine, hip flexors, buttocks, quads, hamstrings, shins, calves and ankles. Stretch until you feel tension but not pain. Do not bounce with each exercise as this can tear the muscle fibres.

MOVE TODAY FOR TOMORROW - Walking is one of the healthiest activities you can choose to help you gain and maintain your physical mobility. Your body was designed with balance in mind and if you somehow walk out of balance, you are placing added stress on the parts of your body that have to compensate in order to keep you upright. With good posture you will be able to breathe easier and avoid back pain. Use the following tips to keep your body in line and add more power to your step.

Upper body: Keep your chin up and eyes looking straight ahead down the trail. Your neck should be relaxed and your head centered between your shoulders. Keep your shoulders relaxed by lifting your chest - as if you are trying to fill your lungs with more air. Use your arms to maintain your balance by swinging them naturally close to your body. Stand tall with your abdomen pulled in slightly towards your back / spine.

Lower body: Keep your hips loose and relaxed and watch that you do not lean forward at the waist. Extend your legs as you head into each stride, but do not lock the knees.

ADD IT UP, AN HOUR IS POWER - Adding up the time spent doing particular activities, along with pacing and rotating them frequently, eases tension in strained muscles. Start slowly and build up your walking routine. Planning and pacing are very important. Don't over exert yourself. With proper clothing, you can walk, hike and snowshoe 12 months of the year.

In summer, drink water or sports drink before, during and after your walk to ensure proper hydration.

In winter, wear a hat to minimize heat loss and dress in layers.

• Your base layer should be a moisture-wicking fabric (avoid cotton);
• The middle layer should be a little heavier that fits loosely over the base layer, also moisture wicking fabric, like Polartec, Thermax or fleece;
• The outer layer should be a lightweight, breathable, windproof jacket that will protect you against cold, wind, rain or snow while still allowing perspiration to evaporate. Also be sure to wear moisture wicking gloves and socks; and

REDUCE STRAIN - Walking shoes, waist pouches, backpacks, etc., are meant to ease the load, not cause additional strain to your body. Take measures to fit the gear to you, not you to the gear.

• Shop around for the right shoe. A physiotherapist can make suggestions of what to look for in a walking shoe that best suits your needs and walking program;
• Replace old shoes. The average life of a walking shoe is approximately 400 to 600 miles (620 to 800 km);
• Monitor your posture and body mechanics. Make sure your head, shoulders and hips are lined up over your feet;
• Consider getting orthotics. Custom-made orthotics can correct or reduce improper motions which lead to chronic injuries.
• Keep your stride comfortable. Too long a stride makes for an "overstride" - muscles tighten up and tire before your walk is over;
• Rotate your walking routes from incline to flat, sidewalk to grass, to keep it interesting and avoiding over-use injuries;
• Don't use wrist or ankle weights while walking as they put too much added stress on your joints.
• Drink lots of fluids and be careful of overheating or dehydrating during activity;
• Listen to your body and watch for recurring or persisting pain - if concerned, seek early professional attention from a physiotherapist.

WALKING WORKOUTS

According to LiveStrong.com, on average, taking 2,000 steps adds up to one mile walked -- well below the standard recommendation of 10,000 steps, or about five miles total, per day. But if you're trying to lose weight, every step and every calorie burned helps.

The heavier you are, the more calories you burn as you walk for any distance. According to the American Council on Exercise, a 120-lb. person burns about 6.5 calories per minute while walking. A 180-lb. person burns about 9.7 calories per minute, walking the same distance at the same intensity. Time how long it takes to walk 2,000 steps, and factor in your weight to see how many calories you've burned.

The University of California, Berkeley, offers these suggestions for improving your walking workouts:

• Try to walk briskly for at least half an hour every day, or one hour four times a week.
• Get a pedometer and see how many steps you take a day. Aim for 3,000, then try to work up to at least 5,000 steps.
• If you want to increase your speed, take faster instead of longer steps.
• Swing your arms or bend them at 90 degrees and pump from the shoulder like race walkers do.
• Choose varied terrains.
• Walk up and down hills to build strength, stamina and burn more calories.
• Try walking backward for a change of pace.