6 simple stretches to power up your walk and prevent injury

Walking is a simple yet powerful exercise that boosts heart health, improves digestion, builds muscle strength, & helps with weight management.

But like other workouts, a proper warm-up is key to avoiding injuries.

Here are six effective stretches to try before your walk:

Hamstring & Ankle Stretch: Sit on the edge of a chair with one leg extended. Lean forward to stretch your hamstrings, which improves flexibility and knee mobility.

Calf Stretch: Stand & place one leg back, keeping the heel on the ground. Lean forward to stretch the calf, enhancing motion & reducing injury risk.

Arm & Shoulder Stretch: Extend one arm across your chest, pulling it gently with the opposite hand. This increases shoulder mobility & minimises injury risk.

Leg Swings: Stand near a wall and swing one leg forward, backwards, and side-to-side. This improves joint mobility and balance.

Groin Stretch: With legs wide, shift to a side lunge, pointing your foot outward to stretch the inner thigh muscles.

Jumping Jack: Start with jumping jacks to boost circulation, warm up joints, and prepare the body for movement.