Spinecare Topics

  • By: ISA Content Team
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Caring for your Spine
Walking

Interesting Walking Facts

Each foot and ankle contains approximately 30 bones, collectively accounting for over º of all bones in the human body.  The average individual takes between 5,000 and 10,000 steps per day. Approximately 3.5 times an individual’s body weight is loaded onto the foot during each step.

Countless number of nerves lying within the spinal cord, the spinal nerves and the peripheral nerves control the pattern of muscle movements during walking.  Because of the repetitive nature of walking orthopedic and neurological problems should be addressed early to help prevent cumulative trauma to the soft tissues and joints of the legs and spine.

Getting Fit by Walking


Regular walking can help you reach any fitness goal including: a healthier life, better muscle tone, easier weight control, and improved aerobic fitness. Fitness improves with exercise using major muscles groups, increasing circulation, increasing oxygen intake, expanding lung capacity, and burning excess calories. To begin a walking program, start slowly. There is no immediate method for reaching your fitness goals. You have a lifetime to work on good health and fitness. Consult a physician prior to beginning any aggressive walking program. Walking is much more preferable than running or jogging because it creates less stress on your spine and extremity joints, including the hips, knees, and ankles.

Evaluating Your Progress in a Walking Program

There are many different ways to measure progress when participating in a regular walking exercise program. One of the easiest ways is to monitor your physical performance by recording the distance walked per unit time. Another effective method is to have periodic assessment of your body mass index (BMI) which takes into account both your height and your weight. Regular evaluation of your resting heart rate is an effective gauge of your cardiovascular fitness level. Your resting heart rate will respond to exercise by becoming slower as the heart is trained to pump more efficiently. Measurement of lung function will also reflect an improved fitness level. Organized walking programs or clubs often offer achievement awards for reaching walking milestones or goals such as the distance covered.

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Educational Partners

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To learn more about your spine. spinehealth, and available spinecare go to the International Spine Assocition (ISA) at www.spineinformation.org. The primary mission of the ISA is to improve spinehealth and spinecare through education. The ISA is committed to disseminating need-to-know information throught the World Wide Web in numerous languages covering many topics related to the spine, including information about spine disorders, spine heath, advances in technology and available spinecare



DISCLAIMER
All health information posted on the site is based on the latest research and national treatment standards, and have been written or reviewed and appoved by the American Acedemy of Spine Physicians and/or International Spine Association physicians or health professionals unless otherwise specified.



The information provided on this site is designed to support. not replace,
the relationship that exists between patient/site visitor and his/her physician.