subject: How To Use Walking For Pain Relief [print this page] You CAN get rid of your aches and pain with a walking program. Walking is so beneficial for your health and wellness. When you were little, you used all of your muscles all of the time--you jumped, skipped, ran (and sometimes you even walked!)
And you didn't have pain then. Your hips did not hurt. Your knees had no pain. No corns or calluses on your little feet. You were so busy!
But, oh dear. Then you went to school. You started sitting more and using your muscles less. You started getting poor posture, aches and pains. You were moving less. See the connection? Less movement equals more aches and pain.
So it's not that "you are getting old." It's that you are getting rusty. And the good news?
Walking is the answer! When you walk you use all parts of your body. The joints in your feet, ankles, knees and hips will all be moving again!
When your arms swing at your sides as you walk (and they should) you are also moving the joints and muscles in your spine, ribs, shoulders and neck.
Walking turns you into a movement machine--just like you were when you were little.
What else is good about walking? It helps get rid of depression. It burns calories. It is low impact. It's all natural. It counts as exercise.
Just about anyone can start a walking program and be taking steps to wellness. But what if you have aches and pains that are keeping you from walking?
I love telling the story about my friend. Rosalie had such bad hip pain from years of non-activity that she could not walk up the stairs in her home. She had to crawl on all fours.
She has diabetes and used that as her excuse not to walk or move. When her two doctors each said it would be a wonderful idea for her to walk she wasn't happy. But she started walking.
At first, she could only barely walk in her house. By and by, she walked in her yard and then in her garden. Now she walks everywhere she wants!
Rosalie does not have hip pain anymore. The neuropathy (numbness) in her feet is gone. Her lung capacity improved 100%. Her lung specialist said, "Rosalie, no one ever comes in here better. They are always worse."
I love Rosalie's walking story but it's not the only one. People of all ages start walking and start feeling better (after a while.) When you walk you get sunshine (and natural vitamin D3 which is needed for good health), fresh air and a change of scenery.
As you start your walking program, your joints will begin to loosen up. They will start to be happier and feel better. You will enjoy the same "feel good" hormones that runners get because your muscles and joints will be happy to be moving again.
