Power Your Walk Challenge: Strengthen Your Muscles to Walk Tall and Prevent Injuries

There’s a lot more to walking tall than, well, putting one foot in front of the other. When your goal is to perfect your upright form—and feel good on the go—a little bit of strength work goes a long way. 

When you work the right muscles, it can help pull you into proper posture, explains Rachel Hunt, D.P.T., a physical therapist at React Physical Therapy in Chicago. 

“Your ‘walk tall’ muscles are called the posterior chain,” she says. They’re the muscles along the back of your body. So think: your back muscles, glutes, and the backs of your legs. 

“Those are the ones that are going to really help you stand upright and stride right,” Hunt adds.