The Mechanics of Walking

Walking is an integral part of everyday life. It is a natural and energy efficient way to move involving a coordinated series of movements.  We often give little thought to walking until something goes wrong and then we are confronted with actually how complex walking is.

The complexity lies in its co-ordination of so many different components. There are many components in play simultaneously and sequentialy, such as muscle strength, joint mobility, muscle length, single leg balance and control.

The specific mechanics and movements involved in walking may vary slightly from person to person due to our individual differences, but the overall process for efficient walking is largely consistent.

Let us understand some of the basic phases involved in walking.

For the movement of walking we refer to three different phases

1. Double leg support – when both feet are in contact with the ground.
2. Stance Phase – this is when only one foot is in contact with the ground
3. Swing Phase – this is when your foot is off the ground and swinging through the air

Generally one leg is in stance phase while the other is in swing phase. Slowly walk and consider these different phases of  your walking cycle.

This cycle is repetitive and continuous. As the legs are moving though these phases we have parts of the body contributing to successful walking. Such as arm movements, postural control to maintain an upright posture and balance.

As we age or after illness or injury walking can be more challenging.  When you understand a little more of what your body is attempting to do when walking, concentrating and being a bit more directive will help your body and go a long way to increasing your confidence.

The key point we want to make is that walking is a complex continuous movement that involves co-ordinated activity from many components of your body. Do not take walking for granted. Cherish your walking and walk more.