Walking helps with rehydrating your spinal discs – from the moment we get out of bed in the morning until we lay down at night the pressure of gravity is compressing our spines. The constant compression of the spinal disc throughout the day squeezes the fluid out of them. Dehydrated discs can lead to back pain and structural problems. That’s why it’s extremely important to stay hydrated and walking increases circulation throughout the body and increases blood flow which helps to rehydrate your discs.

Walking relives back pain and reduce stress to the spine – walking is a great low impact aerobic workout. It increases blood flow which helps improve mobility, flexibility, and range of motion. We as humans are made to move, when we don’t move, our muscles become stiff and inflexible. Moving prevents that, and walking and stretching can help regain flexibility. Walking regularly can also help with stress relief. Lower back pain is an extremely common stress symptom but walking combats its effects by encouraging the release of dopamine. When we are stressed, our pain sensitivity is increased. We feel pain more acutely and it is more difficult to manage. By reducing our stress levels, we also make pain more manageable but at the same time, we minimize back pain.

Walking improves posture – the muscles of the back are intended to support the spine. When they are not used, they atrophy and weakened, resulting in a stooped or poor posture. Poor posture can lead to increased pressure on the spine which often results in pain, tension and headaches. Walking strengthens the supporting muscle groups so that our back muscles remain strong and our spine gets the support that it needs.

Walking is good for our whole body and our minds. The spine is an important part of the human body; it will keep us moving for a long time so we have to protect it and keep it in good health!