Don’t Sleep on Walking!

For many people, it’s not easy to go straight to running—it’s a high-intensity activity with repetitive pounding on our bodies (think of it as a series of many small jumps)! Before transitioning to running, it’s important to build up a foundation of strength. If your muscles are not strong enough and aren’t supporting you properly with each step, it may lead to pain or long-term issues.

That’s where walking comes in. Walking works your cardiovascular system and is a great way to exercise while you get stronger at the gym or in your home. It also puts less stress on your body, as there’s always at least one-foot making contact with the ground.

Once you’re ready to start running, it’s smart to ease into it with the use of run-walks. Run-walks put less pressure on the body than straight-up runs, making exercise less stressful, both mentally and physically, and making recovery faster.

Don’t underestimate walking! If you would like some guidance with a return-to-run program, whether or not you have pain, talk to a React physical therapist. WALK-ins are welcome but appointments are preferred to ensure we have availability.

Schedule your free assessment or initial evaluation at one of our Chicago, Wilmette, or Deerfield React Physical Therapy locations today.