West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-09-24
HOW, TO WALK.
Proper Carriage and Stride TO Be
Maintsined-Tip on BREATHING.

"~'utsne0-i tip on breathing.
Some useful directions {, Inc follow.
ol In walking Tor health or pleasurc
are given 10y Professor A. ard 4. Mel
ligan OF the department . hygiene a;
Amherst college in ou article contrib.
uted tO Country Life I'm America for
July. Professor Nclligan SAYS that n
is surprising how little ~ generally
known about the proper carriage,
stride and breathiag m this form OF
exercise. The car ,gc ami stride on Il
level country ro differ. OF course,
from those tha are best for hllly
country. and al rrcnccs i'm build make
1t impossible for all TO walk alike. vet
certain fundamental rules should bc
followed as far as possible These the
writer proceeds TO give I'm brief as fol
lows:
For ordinary walking on city streets or
good. level country roads the front upper
chest should be raised I'm order TO give
run play To the lungs and heart. Per
slstcnt attention 10 this position OF the
chcst combined with deep breathing, win
secure tho formation OF n most desirable
habit and Will naturally assist in kcoping
the shoulders I'm their proper plncc By
this method natural hut not constraIn-
Cd position OF tho shoulders can be ac-
uuircd
Tho stride should bo shorter and slower
In long distance walking than I'm short.
lest too long and fast a stride cause ex-
hnustion and destroy both tho pleasure
ana proht OF tho exercise. For ordinary
walking the military stride OF thirty
Inches and 100 PAGES per minute is about
right Tor the average man ana is the ro-
suit OF much experience. For tall active
men and FOR speed purposes tho military
stride IL too short ana slow. uud the no
dcstrian must use his own Judgment and
learn from experience. lu races OF from
one 10 ten miles the writcr. who Is five
feet eleven and thrcc-fourths inches I'm
height frequently strobe three feet nine
Inches at tho rate OF i75 steps per minuto
some writer's claim that the body should
DO inclined forward even when walking
ON level ground. for the reason that this
favors speed. giving tho Indians gait as
an example. Others claim that walking
is series OF falls from one foot TO the
other. and therefore for speed purposes
II ls necessary 20 lean forward Such
NrltcrH seem To forget that the momcn-
tum gained while going at the rate OF
hVe miles an hour 10 considerable and IL
at tho same time the body Is inclined for
Wofd II brings an undue strain upon the
muscles which were intended TO hold tho
body erect. The best argument against
this Is that the erect position fnvors a
longer and faster stride when walking on
level ground than ~ possible I'm the bent
position. and. furthermore. the upright
position is less tiring. The best long and
short distance walkers I'm the world. with
very lew exceptions, carry the body erect
The principal reason I'm favor OF the
upright position, Professor Nelligan
tells ms, IS the lessened strain Oh the
large muscles I'm the back and the con
sequcnt saving OF energy. Women
especially should maintain this position
to obtain the best results Bertha Won
Hlllen, the greatest woman walker.
was perfectly erect. To quote further:
The main difference between the long
and short distance walkers is I'm the posi-
ton OF tho leg as tho heel striker the
ground In long distance walking there Is
more action at the knees and less move
mcnt at the hips. and this results I'm n
shorter stride. The knee is slightly bent
In some cases aB the hecl touches the
ground while In others the knee is bent
just after tho straight leg touches the
carth Either method OF bending the
knee relieves the Jar and also the nervous
strain caused by speed walking
For short distances at the greatest nos
sibie speed, az I'm athletic competitions
inc leg In all cases must be atfaight and
mo knee stin as the heel totches tho
ground. and the knee must remain atirf
throughout the stride until the heel OF
tho following foot IN placed for the next
stride. There Is also IA peculiar hip ac-
uon' known among racing men as tho
roll. which is very exhausting. The
9houldcrs and arms are swung violently
forward ana upward, and tho whole gait
Is purely artificial and tiring. reduires
IonB practice, Is not at ali pleasing to
witness and IS apt 60 degenerate into n
very awkward run. The distinction be-
tween walking ana running ~ that I'm
walking the heel OF the forward foot
must be placed In position before the toes
or the rear foot leave the ground whllo
IN running both feet nre or the ground
at the same time.