Incorrect walking posture not only looks unappealing but can also cause physical pain and stiffness, affecting work and study. Dr. Yutaka Hiraizumi, Vice President of Shinagawa Shishokai Hospital and Visiting Professor at Showa University School of Medicine's Department of Orthopedic Surgery, explains that such damage is often hidden and hard to detect. People can identify it through the following signs:
1.When walking or standing, arms habitually hang in front of the body;
2. Frequent slouching;
3. Impatient disposition causing forward leaning while walking;
4. Shifting weight onto one leg while waiting at traffic lights;
5. Inability to walk in a straight line, consistently veering to one side;
6.Always carrying a bag on one shoulder.
If two or more of these apply, your walking posture is problematic. This is especially important for Asians to note. Asian women often have anterior pelvic tilt, where the abdominal muscles supporting the waist fail to engage during walking, placing excessive strain on the lower back. Asian men tend to slouch with arms hanging forward, overloading the neck and waist and causing pain.
Therefore, Pingquan recommends the wall-standing method for posture correction: Stand with your back against a wall, eyes level, chin tucked in; consciously press your shoulder blades and pelvis against the wall, open your chest, leaving a fist-width gap between your lower back and the wall; keep knees straight, arms hanging naturally at your sides, perpendicular to the ground; lift your upper body, feeling as if your body is being pulled upward.Practice this posture repeatedly at home until your body memorizes it, eventually achieving perfect posture without needing the wall. Additionally, maintain an upright posture while walking. When passing mirrors while shopping, check your form: from the front, shoulders should be level, with neck and face aligned; from the side, avoid bending or slouching.
Balance is crucial while walking. Poor balance increases fall risk and affects hip, shoulder, and knee health. Test your balance with these three steps: Walk along a straight line to see if you drift off course; choose a fixed point (like an A4 sheet of paper) and march in place to see if you drift off;While stepping in place, close your eyes and maintain balance for 30 seconds to 1 minute to see if you drift from the starting point. If you drift to the right, it indicates stronger muscles on the right side. In daily exercise, consciously focus on strengthening the opposite muscles.