Gait/Walking

Good quality walking to improve your function and strength

1. What good walking means:
   • Walking as symmetrical as possible (same length of steps and amount of arm swing with right and left sides.
   • Having the opposite arm go forward with the opposite leg.
   • Having a little rotation in your torso (letting your pelvis/hips move a little with your stepping leg and your shoulders move a little with your opposite swinging arm.
2. Even 4 good steps helps can improve your immediate quality of muscle activity.
3. If you need to use a walker than try to rotate your torso a little right to left as you walk as long as there is no increasing stiffness or pain as you do it.
4. Using Urban Poles walking poles or, if need to, Canadian crutches is much better than a can or a walker if you can do it safely without a lot of pain as they let you move with opposite arm and leg and get a little rotation in your torso.

The above information is based on neurology research by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Palomar.