Jeannette Loram, a biologist and movement teacher known for her insights on human biomechanics, joins the conversation to explore the concept of a 'right' way to walk. They discuss the phases of walking gait, what constitutes an 'abnormal' gait, and the importance of balance and efficiency. The talk delves into how our modern lifestyles impact our walking patterns and the relationship between human and animal locomotion. Moreover, they tackle listener questions about the peculiarities of race walking and advocate for understanding individual movement as a path to better health.
The podcast explores whether there is a 'right' way to walk, emphasizing that gait varies significantly due to individual biology and environment.
It breaks down the critical phases of a healthy gait, highlighting the importance of biomechanics like heel strike for stability and efficiency.
Environmental factors, including inappropriate footwear and specific sports constraints, significantly impact gait patterns and may create unnatural movement habits.
Deep dives
Overview of Move Your DNA Weekends
Move Your DNA weekends are specialized events aimed at teaching participants how to align their bodies optimally during various exercises to promote easier and less painful movement. The weekend activities will focus on the 40 exercises outlined in Katie Bowman's book, which emphasizes natural movement as a means to restore health. This instructional experience is set to take place in Argyle, Scotland, inviting participants to learn how to adapt these exercises to their own bodies. Additionally, there are plans for similar events in other locations, including Belgium and various U.S. states, aimed at expanding accessibility to this valuable training.
The Complexity of Gait
Gait refers to how humans and animals walk or move, encompassing various forms such as walking, running, and skipping. The podcast delves into whether there is a 'right' or 'natural' way to walk, spurred by past discussions about gait optimization. Contributors express that the concept of a right way to walk is complex and may vary due to individual biological and environmental circumstances. The speakers draw comparisons with animal locomotion, illustrating that discussions around gait can sometimes overlook the influences of altered physical experiences in humans.
Characteristics of a Healthy Gait
A healthy gait consists of specific phases, including stance and swing, which are critical in ensuring stability and efficiency in movement. The contributors break down these phases, emphasizing the importance of proper biomechanics, such as heel strike and foot placement, to prevent abnormalities. They highlight common issues like shuffling or hip drop, which can complicate walking, especially in older adults. Observing these characteristics can help identify inefficiencies or pathologies in one’s gait, prompting corrective measures.
Impact of Environment and Shoes on Gait
The speakers discuss how environments and choices like shoe selection fundamentally affect gait patterns. In modern society, many individuals wear inappropriate footwear that can restrict natural movement or lead to abnormal walking patterns. Specific examples include the challenges faced when walking on slippery surfaces, where adaptations can further contribute to inefficient stride lengths. The conversation underscores the importance of understanding how external factors influence one’s ability to walk effectively and safely.
Race Walking and Its Unique Challenges
Race walking presents a curious combination of walking and speed, requiring competitors to maintain a strict form that differs from natural movement patterns. The participants discuss how this sport enforces constraints that can lead to biomechanical issues, as the objective is to walk as fast as possible while adhering to rules that dictate limb positioning. The discussion raises questions about the health implications of such enforced motions and whether this type of activity is beneficial or detrimental to the body. This leads to a broader discussion on how an unnatural gait can arise not just from individual mechanics but also from the demands of various sports.
Biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram discuss gait and question whether there is a ‘right’ way to walk.
They explain the mechanics of walking gait, outlining the phases and shapes that each leg and foot should move through during the gait cycle. They propose that an ‘abnormal’ gait would be one that is missing one of these phases or shapes. They also suggest a framework for assessing walking based on efficiency, symmetry and balance. They talk about gait deficits such as shuffling and waddling and what is missing in those gait patterns while acknowledging that we are all individuals and not all gait variation is abnormal or needs to be corrected.
Katy suggests we can only get to the heart of this question by considering human movement ecology; particularly the volume we walk, the shoes we walk in and, for most modern humans, the lack of a requirement to walk long distances efficiently. They discuss this in relation to human hunter-gatherers as well as other animals.
Finally, they answer a couple of listener questions on the rather unusual gait seen in racewalking.
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