Do you know what your walk looks like?

[Saturdayblurs]

For some bizarre reason my husband and I were talking about different walking gaits and realised we’d never really seen what we look like walking from point A to point B, from the perspective of other people. So we filmed each other and watched it. I look like an absolute spectacle. Yes we were bored but it was pretty funny. I wonder how many people are unaware of what their walk looks like from an outside perspective (for example, other than seeing yourself walking in a reflection).

I hate to think what my walk looks like! I suffer from arthritis in my knees and hips. I also have pain in my lower back and pelvis a lot of the time,and I'm aware that when I walk,I am stooping slightly. I make a conscious effort not to but it's sooo difficult.

Seen it on my Blink doorbell and it turns out I have a huge bottom.

But I'm adorable so I carry it off.

Yes I walk a a bit with my feet splayed out, then over pronation (which shouldnt be quite as bad these days because I wear orthotics), I sort of march as well but also quite clumsy.

When I was much bigger (Ive lost 10 stone), I walked like a fat person. I didnt quite realise how badly until I was filmed for something at work, it was horrifying and mortifying. I just swayed from side to side to create momentum. Awful

So no matter how badly I walk now, I know I dont look quite so ridiculous as then.

Oh yes and I limp a bit too, sometimes worse than others. This morning I was fine, but we then did a 20 mile bike ride and then I sat in the car for nearly 6 hours. When we got out to use the loo somewhere I could barely walk! I must have looked about 80!

Apparently my gait is identical to that of my father's. As a female, I'm not sure that's a good thing. 😂

I used to be a member of a small gym where the (millenial) PTs were constantly filming and much of the footage ended up on Instagram. So I know far too well how I look walking, running, rowing, cycling, jumping, doing weights and indeed swearing at the camera. With no make-up on and hair scraped back at 6am. Thanks guys.

I glide gracefully, with an occasional youthful bounce.

...in my head

In reality, I have fucked knees. A dodgy hip, I'm overweight and walk like a fat 90 year old shuffler. I do NOT need to see it.

I catch myself in the mirror all hunched up like Columbo.

Depends what shoes I'm in. In trainers/boots I bounce. Especially if I'm listening to music or I'm just full of energy or joy. I have to stop myself dancing or spinning around sometimes, becauseI'm 45, not 5.

In heels, I march purposefully and steadily.

I walk like I’m on the catwalk, which should be a good thing but I think it just makes me look like a knob 😂🙈.

Born with deformed bones in my feet, where the metatarsals are mismatched

I learned to walk with a 'wide base of gait' (like a cowboy), both feet turned out (like a ballet dancer) and rolling over the big toes, effectively like a waddling bird

I march, back straight, head up. shoulders back, no hands in pockets etc, it makes me look aloof and arrogant, oh and I walk fast. I know this because people I know have caught up with me and said they knew it was me from my gait and described it, female friends and family complain I walk too fast and on occasion when I've had a military boyfriend people asked if we were in the same unit or in the police force.

I do know my normal stride is too long as I can get aches from it, I don;t know why I do that, I have to consciously shorten my stride if I've started out too long.

I'm ex-army and my mates say I walk about looking like I'm marching across a parade square or looking like I'm about to lamp somebody 😂

According to my ring camera and reflection in shop windows - I walk too fast, slightly hunched over and look like I'm out to kill someone. My ring camera also tells me I have a very broad back and a cone head.

An ex once told me that I walk like a farmer, that was over 20 years ago and I still think about it sometimes. I run these days and have no desire at all to see what that looks like, I'm guessing it doesn't look anywhere as good as it feels!

I picture confident stride. I'd take that as a compliment!

According to a late family friend, I walk like my Grandpa.

Yes same here. One of my ds's has a strange gait and my dh has similar.

My ex said the same thing and I've been self conscious ever since, he was very good at pinpointing small things that I did 'wrong'

New insecurity unlocked! Thanks OP 😁

Like a penguin. Which is pointed out to me everytime I see myself on the doorbell

My toes point inward towards each other, and I curl my ankle inwards too.

Very fast, almost a march, back straight and shoulders back. Like my dad, basically. 😂 It does vary a bit though. If I'm wearing a nice long dress it somehow changes. Maybe subconsciously I want to be a bit more elegant. It's still fast though.

DH had a hip injury some years back when he fell off a horse. Most of the time he doesn't get any pain and walks like the tall slim thing he is, a little awkward but fast. If it's hurting him or in a particularly bad flare he limps, but tries to walk at the same speed. Neither of us are used to slowing down so we look strange! Caught it on the Ring doorbell coming up the path and neither of us knew what to do with our arms. 😂

An interesting thread!

When I walk I feel fine, comfortable and not in pain. But I obviously don't look it, as I've had SO many comments on my walk over the years! For example -

'Why are you limping? Ooh that looks PAINFUL, does your foot hurt? I was behind you in town the other day, you were walking SO slowly!'

It makes me uncomfortable as I'm not generally aware of these things! I'm in my early 50's, but have had these comments since I was a teenager! I can get a bit snappy if people mention it too much. 😚