Advance Physical Therapy

Advance Physical Therapy

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

Certified Postural Restoration Center · C2 Advanced Schroth Certified Scoliosis Therapists (BSPTS)

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The Importance of Arm Swing During Walking and Running

December 19, 2016 by Jean Massé

Arm swing is becoming a forgotten part of walking. We live in an era of cell phones, groceries, strollers, large purses and any number of other growing encumbrances. The ability to swing our arms freely is being lost. We forget that as mammals who happen to be up on two legs that our arms continue to play a critical role in walking. Imagine a dog or horse attempting to walk or run while using a cell phone. Absurd, yes of course. From a purely mechanical standpoint, it would likely fall on its face.  Its forelimbs are critical for locomotion and breathing. 

In this vintage article relating to how animals who run on four legs utilize their four limbs to “pump” air in and out of their bodies, a picture of efficient motion and function is described: Bramble DM. Axial-Appendicular Dynamics and the Integration of Breathing and Gait in Mammals. Am Zool. 29, 171-86. 1989. The animal’s pendulum like action of the arms and legs act on the core to stimulate the respiratory cycle.

In humans “appendicular dynamics” means arm swing and leg swing connected by our “axial” core. If the leg swinging through the air is not counterbalanced by an arm on the opposite side of the body the mechanical system is imbalanced. If that leg is not joined to that freely swinging arm via a balanced core, the system is imbalanced. Check out the gif below to see how the arms and legs relate in efficient human walking:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Walk-Cycle.gif#/media/File:Walk-Cycle.gif

Humans are incredibly creative at adapting to imbalance, however adaptive compensations are often at the price of pain, breathing disorders and inefficiency/fatigue. We are not so far removed from our 4 legged friends in the importance of our arms to be used for optimum health and balance in walking and running. I am a big fan of anything that helps with freeing up the arms during walking. Consider over the shoulder purses, back packs or just leaving stuff you don’t need at home or in the car. Give it a try and see how much of a boost your arms can add to your movement and breathing.

 

Filed Under: performance, Postural Restoration, Running, Uncategorized Tagged With: arm swing, breathing, postural restoration, posture, running, walking

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About Jean Massé

Jean Masse PT, DPT, PRC, OCS, ATC has never stopped working to understand the elegance of human structure and movement. She blends her passion for movement and function with patience, knowledge and consideration of each patient as an individual

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Advance Physical Therapy is a physical therapist owned practice offering quality rehabilitation to clients in Chapel Hill, Durham, Carrboro, Pittsboro, Cary and surrounding areas of the Triangle in North Carolina.

Our therapists are highly experienced in traditional physical therapy techniques and have specialized expertise in a variety of areas including Postural Restoration, Manual Therapy, Counterstrain, Schroth based Scoliosis Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Sports Medicine, Orthotics and Personal Training.

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