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Walking is good exercise, but requires proper practice – Study

Washington, Feb 19 (Prensa Latina) Walking is a healthy, simple and inexpensive exercise; however, practicing it unproperly causes pain and physical discomfort so mistakes should be avoided, according to an article published in National Geographic.

After consulting opinions from several experts, the article highlights five aspects to keep in mind when walking, since doing it properly aids to prevent heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancer.

Although it is a simple exercise, injuries must be avoided and, for this, it is advisable to pay close attention when choosing the best walking shoes so as not to damage your feet.

It is suggested to choose an athletic shoe that offers a comfortable, fit, and well-cushioned sole.

Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause chafing, friction blisters, toe sores and general pain, and turn a pleasurable activity into a nuisance.

Specialists say that when walking, arms also play an important role, as they act as a counterweight to the legs in a natural motion.

The experts advise moving each arm in opposition to the movement of the leg and try to relax the upper limbs and let them alternate naturally, since leaving them to the sides or swinging them strongly can reduce the walking speed.

Maintaining an upright but soft posture, with loose shoulders, reduces tension in the neck, relaxes the hips and loosens the muscles of the lower back.

You should never walk with your head down, as it forces the body to work much harder to maintain alignment and can cause severe pain in the cervical spine.

There is no need to take long strides, as they are less stable and the walker may feel a little unbalanced, but rather try to keep the steps relatively close to the torso, short and fast, which will help keep the spine straight and avoid overloading the back or hips.

Finally, specialists advise staying hydrated during walking, drinking a small amount of water or other liquids at regular intervals.

In this context, they suggest avoiding caffeinated beverages before the walk, because their consumption causes fluid loss and makes you thirstier.

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