Ok, gang... time for a personal update to my own Movement Journey.About 2.5 months ago I began an experiment/corrective action to address some irritation in my right hip area. The backstory: about 3 yrs ago, during a home move, I am pretty darn sure that "Tarzan" here took a bad step while carrying a much-too-heavy box...the equivalent of stepping off of a curb that you didn't see with an extra 60-70 lbs in your hand. (OUCH!) Of course, Tarzan just shook it off. That led to 2 yrs of inadvertent & wrongful compensation...the result being a favored & over-trained left leg, and wimpy, occasionally achy right leg and hip...and a pronounced right femur exterior rotation.
*****UPDATE: The root cause of my hip issue was severe arthritis in the hip due to a rare childhood condition known as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.
Without getting too deep in the weeds, it may affect the piroformus, and/or possibly the quads. (My PCP is has a specialty in sport medicine, and I will see him in a few weeks).So my research led me to another potential, yet seemingly unrelated, issue...an improper walking gait. Thus began my experiment.
After 49 years, I came to realize that I needed to learn how to walk properly! The Conventional Wisdom of walking heel-to-toe is in reality as UNnatural as a golf swing!!So I did a LOT of reading, studied a LOT of videos, looked up several podiatrists & other experts on foot/gait issues (including professional athletes).I came to realize (and fall in love with) a "forefoot strike" walking style, much the same as our ancestors.
I bought my first pair of "barefoot/minimalist/zero-drop" shoes, and began the slow process of transitioning from a heel-to-toe gait cycle to a forefoot strike.
Two and a half months later: I have fully embraced this style of walking (and jogging & running), and have already noticed improvements in my feet, ankles, shins, calves, quads, hamstrings, back, and yes, hips, too. (My hip concern hasn't fully resolved, but I believe that a forefoot gait cycle has definitely made an improvement). AND...this walking style trains your feet and gait for actual barefoot walking (for real, as in "no shoes"), allowing for more opportunities for "grounding" (we can talk about that later).
So , here are some great resources to help you out, should you want to investigate the benefits of a proper gait cycle on your own!Bob & Brad are licensed physical therapists that the PHD Community uses as a trusted resource for PT references. Through that, I found Grown & Healthy, and he REALLY does many deep-dives into the ergonomics of the foot (grab a notebook!) Both are great YouTube channels that I, personally, recommend as well.
+++++++++++++++There are, of course, arguments for a heel-to-toe gait cycle, as well. I found the evidence for forefoot strike gait overwhelmingly more convincing...but do your own homework, and come to your own conclusion.++++++++++++++++
Enjoy! Leave feedback in the comments!
#Walking #Gait #Movement #minimalist #shoe #walking #walk
https://youtu.be/BxBk2CYmR1M
https://youtu.be/3iLJ0frWE9E
Just got me some new minimalist "casual" shoes...ME LIKEY!!
