"Most people think walking faster and taking longer strides equals better exercise. After all, covering more ground should mean burning more calories and getting fitter, right? But here's what I've learned after interviewing physical therapists and orthopedic specialists over the years: that aggressive, overextended walking style is actually one of the worst things you can do to your knees, especially after 50."
"When you overstride, your heel strikes the ground first with your leg straight, sending shock waves directly up through your knee joint. Think of it like this: instead of your muscles absorbing the impact, your knee joint takes the full force of every step. Do this thousands of times during a walk, and you're essentially hammering your knee cartilage with each stride."
Overstriding—taking massive strides that land the front foot ahead of the body—causes the heel to strike with the leg straight, sending shock waves directly up the knee joint. Repeated heel-first impacts bypass muscular absorption and place full force on knee cartilage, increasing risk of pain and joint damage, especially after age 50. Many people adopt aggressive long-stride walking believing it burns more calories and improves fitness, but the biomechanics increase knee load. A practical correction is to take shorter, quicker steps so the foot lands beneath the hips rather than out in front, reducing impact.
Read at Silicon Canals
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