Musculature engagement and dynamic walking are some of the more important components of your walking wellness. How do we define these undervalued terms which are so critical to your health?
What is Musculature Engagement?
In short, your musculature engagement is a good indicator of the vigor of your gait, or how dynamic your walking technique is. Revolutionary gait-analysis technology, like that found in Baliston shoes, measures your muscular engagement with biometrics that consider a multitude of factors and provide unique insight into your bodily health to help reduce pain and prevent injury. Other metrics such as propulsion and stride length are positive influencers on Baliston's Musculature Score, whereas heel impact force has a negative influence.
What Does Dynamic Walking Look Like?
Dynamic walkers with strong Musculature Score move with speed, strength, and intention. They take long strides, move quickly, and bounce from one step to the next.
Dynamic walking is also connected to propulsion, another important component of walking health. We get much of our propulsion from the “swing speed” of our ankles. The ankle rotates mid-step, enabling the stride to gather and release energy like a rubber band flexes and compresses. High propulsion often correlates with strong musculature engagement, so a dynamic walking form includes a healthy ankle swing.
Why is Dynamic Walking Essential for Walking Wellness?
Dynamic walking requires more energy and force, working your cardiovascular and muscular systems. Dynamic gaits are connected to longer stride lengths (which involve high muscle recruitment) and faster steps (which involve more intense cardiovascular system use). By propelling the body forward with coordination and acceleration, dynamic walking burns calories and increases muscle development, especially in the calves.
Walking with dynamism is one of the best ways to improve baseline wellness, build strength, and improve endurance. Athletes and frequent exercisers often record high musculature scores, even when walking at low intensities. This makes it no surprise that walking dynamically and exercising regularly are great ways to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, develop postural muscles, and develop the variety of leg muscles.
What Are Some Risks of Walking?
A dynamic gait isn’t without possible risk. While accelerating forward quickly after your foot hits the ground increases walking dynamism, a foot strike that’s too intense can lead to injury. Using good walking form and evenly distributing your foot’s contact with the ground are essential steps for overall wellness.
Without proper strength, balance, coordination, and angular velocity in your feet, other parts of your body -- like your knees, hips, ankles, and lower back -- are forced to overcompensate. This can cause undue stress and lead to injuries or chronic pain. Dynamic walkers should ensure their gait is strong and symmetrical to avoid possible ailments. Walking health is all about finding the balance between vigor and proper step execution.
Baliston's Musculature Score and Walking Quality ScoreEvery Baliston user receives a Walking Quality Score as they move through the day, a score that gives you an overall picture of your walking health. Dynamic walking and a high Musculature Score will be reflected in a higher Walking Quality Score because high propulsion, long stride length, and reduced heel impact force. Walk with us towards a better future for wellness!