For many years when I walk barefoot around home I do not notice my gait. I just walk around and it seems natural. I walk on ceramic floors, wood, concrete basement floor, concrete patio, grass, and concrete sidewalk. I have never once paid attention to my gait on those short walks. I slip on socks - same thing. When I use to wear padded slippers - same thing. I just walk and never had issues.
In the past couple of years I tried BF running, and at other times, running in minimalist footwear. I won't get into that now, but for now I'm not wanting to run, just walk (then hike...then, maybe, run).
At work and on the weekends I'm wearing either vivobarefoot ra or evo, or xero 6mm sandals. I just walk and don't think about gait. From time to time I get sore tendons/ligaments around one ankle. I'm pretty sure I'm heel striking (more below). And I'm guessing the sore ankles are from heel striking in uncushioned footwear? I understand minimalist footwear can make this happen...but it less likely to happen BF
So today I said I would try and change my gait (not heel strike). I used these points from another post as my mantra:
- Relax, relax, relax
- Vertical torse
- Bent knees (when the foot is directly beneath the torse)
- Move your body (particularly the hips) forward
- Let the feet follow
Went for a 40 minute walk this morning in my 4mm xero sandals. And then a 15 minute walk at work in my Ra 3mm (no insole). Both times I felt very ackward. My feet, and ankles, feel fine at the moment. My lower back, abs, and hamstrings feel 'worked out' (not necessarily in a bad way). I'm assuming this is normal, as it's not my lower legs doing the work? I'm also assuming my feet are somewhat accustomed to minimalist footwear because I've been wearing it for years, but in changing my gait I'm making new things happen or not happen. I think I could keep up trying out this gait, and should be able to catch myself not following the above points rather quickly. Laslty, I'm assuming this new gait, once done for a while, would become my new natural gait(assuming I'm BF or 'very' minimal footwear...otherwise with larger shoes it would be harder to notice)?
I'm guessing most folks who changed their walking gait as part of BF/minimalist movement would have experienced pretty much the same thing?
In the past couple of years I tried BF running, and at other times, running in minimalist footwear. I won't get into that now, but for now I'm not wanting to run, just walk (then hike...then, maybe, run).
At work and on the weekends I'm wearing either vivobarefoot ra or evo, or xero 6mm sandals. I just walk and don't think about gait. From time to time I get sore tendons/ligaments around one ankle. I'm pretty sure I'm heel striking (more below). And I'm guessing the sore ankles are from heel striking in uncushioned footwear? I understand minimalist footwear can make this happen...but it less likely to happen BF
So today I said I would try and change my gait (not heel strike). I used these points from another post as my mantra:
- Relax, relax, relax
- Vertical torse
- Bent knees (when the foot is directly beneath the torse)
- Move your body (particularly the hips) forward
- Let the feet follow
Went for a 40 minute walk this morning in my 4mm xero sandals. And then a 15 minute walk at work in my Ra 3mm (no insole). Both times I felt very ackward. My feet, and ankles, feel fine at the moment. My lower back, abs, and hamstrings feel 'worked out' (not necessarily in a bad way). I'm assuming this is normal, as it's not my lower legs doing the work? I'm also assuming my feet are somewhat accustomed to minimalist footwear because I've been wearing it for years, but in changing my gait I'm making new things happen or not happen. I think I could keep up trying out this gait, and should be able to catch myself not following the above points rather quickly. Laslty, I'm assuming this new gait, once done for a while, would become my new natural gait(assuming I'm BF or 'very' minimal footwear...otherwise with larger shoes it would be harder to notice)?
I'm guessing most folks who changed their walking gait as part of BF/minimalist movement would have experienced pretty much the same thing?