Ten steps to healthy legs 👣
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Human legs are a remarkable piece of human engineering. From waist to toes, there is a network of more than 60 different bones. In a lifetime, the average person walks 150,000 kilometres, 9,000 steps a day and almost four times around the world.
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Here, we explain how to keep your legs in peak condition.
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🚶2.Walk properly
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Exercise is very important for the health of your legs, according to Dr Scurr. 'It doesn't really matter what you do, just get moving.'
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Walking is an excellent way to tone the muscles in the leg, reduce body fat and improve circulation.
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We may have started walking when we were still in nappies, but according to Alexander Technique teacher Malcolm Balk, most people don't do it properly.
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'People walk the same way they sit. If you tend to collapse over a computer, the chances are you take the same pattern along for the walk,' he explains.
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'A common habit is walking into the ground rather than over the ground. This means you pound rather than flow, which puts strain on your body.'
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The ultimate aim, according to Mr Balk, is to walk tall, smoothly and quietly. Avoid looking down, because this puts your head down and your spine follows, placing pressure on your back and neck.
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Keep your head up and look outwards. The head should lead the spine upward, while the knee, not the foot, leads the leg forward. 'If you lead with the foot, your body will tilt backwards rather than encouraging it to lengthen upwards off the legs,' says Mr Balk. 'Try to transfer your weight smoothly from one leg to the next, rather than muscling the body along with excessive effort.'
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