How to Walk Properly-Standing Leg vs Swing Leg

Whether we use the standing leg or the swing leg to power the swing through portion of the step is one of the most fundamental and common differences in walking styles. Correct walking technique uses the standing leg hip to power the swing through. When we use the swing leg hip to power the swing through, it results in either duck-feet positioning or leaning forward. The reason is that we cannot step forward using the swing leg hip if the feet are both facing forward. Moving forward in this manner requires turning the body in a fashion that the feet are angled outward. It would be hard to prove why most people walk with duck feet because few people think about their walking technique enough to even know how long they have been doing it. By the time it becomes apparent that there is a problem, people have probably been walking that way for many years. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I believe that people begin to walk duck-footed because they are powering the step with the wrong leg. They may do it initially because it produces a very slow and relaxed feel to the step. They may do it because they are wearing flip flops a lot, and walking this way helps keep the flip flops on the feet. However it begins, when it has been going on for many years, the connective tissues may stiffen up in that position, then making it difficult or impossible to straighten the feet out. This may lead people to believe that stiffness in the hips is the cause of the problem, but I believe it is the result of the problem, not the cause. There are too many people walking like this these days for it to be a primary structural problem. The human body was not designed that faulty. In this video At the end of the video, I demonstrate a simple exercise to help you feel the difference between using the swing leg hip and the standing leg hip. The goal is to help as many people catch this problem and correct it before the structure of the body changes in a way that it becomes difficult to correct.

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[lovplaytn]

Another very interesting lesson. The body is pulled forward by the standing leg. Will practice it on my next walk. Can't get enough of the insights of this subject. Seems like each of your videos has useful new information.

[montsarmahfoudh]

your channel is so underrated man, keep up the good work!

[glennianaro]

This is a great insight that I don't see getting talked about much. Nice location for the video as well.

[officialsimbah]

best explanation ever… just wow… i was laughing and smiling all the way through thinking “Jesus that makes so much sense, oh my God”…. just wow, great video, it’s short enough to comfortably watch it through and long enough to properly have everything explained… quality stuff there 👍👍

[Jota-rcyq]

Excellent explanation, you hit the nail in the head regarding duck foot walking! I’m a duck foot walker myself and I exhibit all the characteristics you mention, hopefully I’ll be able to correct my gait and prevent damage to my body!

[jasonphan]

It is a education to teach people do correctly and thank you for showing videos

[PabloEdvardo]

this is incredibly insightful. I've been having hip issues and walking issues for a long time and this very clearly identifies some of my walking behavior issues

[ropeysubstance]

another excellent video with a beautiful scenic backdrop. how do you always find the best places to record videos? lol

[Surai]

Thank you for your content and advice, doctor. I live in a pretty populated area and there isn't a decent Physical Therapy place within reasonable driving distance. This kind of information is super important and nearly inaccessible for many of us.

[aswinaswinap]

I just found this now.... Sir... This must be an effective solution for my Crisis✨️🙌

[dariomanfroi]

This is a great video. Thank you very much

[matteobarsottini]

Hi Todd! Beautiful video as always! My compliments. I have exactly this kind of problem. Executing the exercise that you advised to do I am able to power the step with my standing leg. However I find it difficult to do that in my "daily walking", the lower abdominal muscles that tuck under and rotate on the standing leg side are quite weak on both part. Do you have in mind something to improve this condition? I really hope that this can be helpful to other persons other than me. I thank you so much for what you are doing and for you professionlity.

[fpskiller]

I was actually searching that why I am not walking straight and why my back and head bents. I noticed that some people walk straight but I didn't get that but after watching your video I get that why I was walking wrong.
The difference is that:
1. The correct way of walking is applying force on the forward leg and then forward and place your follow through leg.
2.In wrong way you place your follow through leg first because of which you have to lean your body to walk forward.
I get it after spending 5 mins.

[logans]

Thank you so much, Iv been researching and trying all kinds of stretches and massages to align my legs right, who knew I just needed to learn how to walk right. Almost instantly fixed, still a little strange but I’m sure that will workout with practice as the muscles get used to the change.

[odioemmanuel]

Thanks Sir Todd, I really appreciate for this video. I move forward with my swing leg instead of standing leg. I am working on it now
Sir please can you do a video on how to correct muscle imbalances in the lower limbs

[rayafilms]

Super video, great location! This is relevant to me, since I notice there is a more pronounced duck foot tendency on my left (weak) side. So I'm concentrating at the moment to keep that foot completely straight and, as you say, use standing leg hip power.

[iseethroughthematrix]

Whilst I appreciate what you're showing us with your videos, in my opinion it just feels strange that despite the fact that humans have been walking for thousands of years we are doing it incorrectly and need to be shown/taught how to walk the correct way.

[michiganhay]

I’ve been discovering this every sense watching your latest video using the Chi Chi move exercise where you push off and I’ve noticed I’ve been using my right side better one side I was not pushing off, but was rather trying to pull forward with the left swing leg makes a lot of sense now

[ellenbrechin]

With 2 knee replacement and 1 hip replacement and being flat footed, my walk is all messed up plus balance is off and I fall often. I will be practicing this walk to see how I do. Thanks for the information

[odioemmanuel]

Greetings Sir Todd Martin MD

In this video on how to convert from duck feet walking to walking with your feet facing forward OR change from using your swing leg hip to power the movement to using your standing leg hip to power the movement.

The exercises you gave goes like this:

Stand with your feet turned out, shift towards the foot you want to walk with and then use that hip to pull your body around and forward in the direction that foot is facing.

After the exercise I will be able to use the standing leg hip to power the swing leg for about 10 steps while walking after that I won't be able to do so ( I will move back to duck feet walking or using swing leg hip to power the movement )

My questions are:

1. How many reps and sets of the exercise should I do per day?

2. Can I progress the exercise by placing a barbell weight on my shoulder while during the exercise