HOW TO Walk Stretching Routines
By Wendy Bumgardner
Stretching will add flexibility and
can make your walking more comfortable.
Warm up for 5 minutes at an easy
walking pace before stretching, never stretch cold muscles or you risk
tearing them. Incorporate mobility exercises designed to take a muscle and
joint through its range of motion. You will start at the top of your body
and work your way down.
Find an upright pole or fence or wall
that will support you for leaning into on some stretches.
Stretches and Mobility Exercises
for Walkers
Head Circles:
Make 1/4 circles with your head. Start
with your ear near your shoulder on one site, rotate your head around to
the front, ending with your ear near the shoulder on the other side. Roll
your head back to the other side. Repeat 5-10 times.

Arm Circles:
With one arm at a time, make backwards
arm circle with your palm facing out, thumb pointed up.
Repeat 10-15 with each arm. Then make
forward arm circles with palm facing in, thumb pointed down, repeat 10-15
times.
Hip Stretch:
Stand up, take a half-step back with
the right foot.
Bend your left knee and shift your weight back to your right hip.
While keeping the right leg straight, bend forward more and reach further
down your right leg.
Hold for 15-30 seconds.
Switch sides.
Hip Stretch - Instructions and
Photo
Quadiceps Stretch:
Stand erect, holding onto a wall for support.
Bend your knee behind you so that you can grasp your foot, holding your
heel against your butt.
Stand up straight and push your knee gently back as far as you can, the
hand just keeps the heel in place.
(For some, it is more comfortable to use the hand from the opposite side).
Hold for 15-30 seconds, then switch.
Quadriceps Stretch - Instructions and Photo
Calf Stretch:
Stand an
arm's-length from the wall/post.
Lean into wall/post, bracing yourself with your arms.
Place one leg forward with knee bent - this leg will have no weight put on
it.
Keep other leg back with knee straight and heel down.
Keeping back straight, move hips toward wall until you feel a stretch.
Hold 30 seconds. Relax.
Repeat with other leg.
Calf Stretch - Instructions and Photo
Achilles Stretch:
From the calf stretch position, bend
the back knee so that the angle is changed to stretch the Achilles tendon.
Keep your heel down, hold 15-30 seconds. Then switch legs.
Leg Extensions:
Facing the pole, hold on with both
hands. Bending at the knee, bring one leg forward, then extend and swing
that leg back and behind. Repeat 10-15 times, then switch legs. Be
cautious of hyperextending your lower back.
Cross Over Leg Swings:
Holding onto the pole or fence rail
with both hands, face forward. Swing one leg in front of your body
gradually swinging higher. Swing about 10-15 times with each leg.
After stretching and mobility
exercises, now you are ready to walk the main portion of your walk at your
desired speed.
For the final 5-10 minutes of your
walk, finish with an easy walking pace.

WALK YOUR WAY
TO WEEK ONE
MOVE ONTO WEEK
TWO!
JOG INTO WEEK
THREE!
EXERCISE YOUR
WAY TO WEEK FOUR!
Half Way there - Week five
Feeling Great in Week Six
The Inches disappear - Week
Seven
Pounds are gone Week Eight
The end is near Week Nine
Success in Week 10 Keeping
doing it!
ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL THE MODERATORS
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