How to Increase Walking Stride & Gait

Walking is an effective exercise that can do everything from helping you keep your weight under control to increasing your bodily strength. If you want to reap all of the benefits of walking, however, it can be beneficial to learn its proper techniques. When walking for exercise, concentrate on your stride and gait, from the speed of your individual steps to your overall pace.

Things You'll Need

  • Walking shoes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wear suitable footwear. Before you even step outdoors to begin walking, make sure that you have appropriate walking shoes. Seek out walking shoes that provide strong support and a lot of flexibility in the toe area. Shoes with rounded heels also enable walkers to move freely from the heel to toe. The correct footwear can offer an easier stride, increase energy and also prevent injuries.

    • 2

      Practice proper posture. Concentrate on the way you carry your body as you walk. Keep your back fully straight and avoid leaning -- as it could bring upon muscle strain and lower backache. Maintain a forward gaze and level chin. Keep your back flat.

    • 3

      Warm your muscles up. To achieve a better stride and gait, engage in some quick stretches before and after your walking routine. Concentrate especially on stretching your hamstrings and calves.

    • 4

      Use your toes. To encourage a brisk walking speed and stride, push off from the toes and make an effort to hit the ground with your heel. Move forward with the assistance of your calf muscles.

    • 5

      Aim for rapid steps. To get a better gait, avoid thinking just about longer steps, and instead concentrate on steps that are fast. Stride generally increases the longer you walk, so focus on speed initially.

    • 6

      Think about your breathing. Inhale deeply and in a rhythmic fashion, and focus on taking in as much air as possible. Keep up your walking speed but not so much that you are unable to properly catch your breath.