The recent cold snap has brought snow. Whilst snow can be a hassle for commuters, it can provide fun for kids, old and young. 

For Physiotherapists, snow and ice also bring patients with the inevitable bruises, sprains and fractures. Slipping on the ice is SO easy to do!

 

Why Walk Like A Penguin?

 

One of my patients yesterday, told me that her GP had told her to walk like a penguin. When she’d asked how to do that, the GP had smiled and said “ask your physio”!

I’m happy to admit that whilst I’ve watched my share of penguins on ‘Blue Planet’, I wasn’t immediately sure what the GP was talking about. Thankfully, a bit of basic research revealed the advice to ‘walk like a penguin’ is part of a recent NHS falls prevention advice.

 

How to Walk Like A Penguin

A number of NHS trusts, especially in Scotland, (where presumably they’re more often subject to icy conditions than us down south) have been posting advice and information. They explain that our normal walking patterns are more likely to result in a slip on ice than adopting a penguin’s waddle. The side to side, short-stepping action helps to get your weight over your foot in a line running straight down to the floor.

 

  • take short steps
  • turn your feet out and walk a little flat footed.
  • keep your weight over the foot of your front leg
  • keep your arms out (not in your pockets)!

 

 

Penguin Walk Ice

With any luck the cold spell we’ve been experiencing will pass soon enough. However, it was still sub zero for my walk to work this morning, it’s still advice worth remembering!

 

All our Physiotherapists are highly qualified, experienced with a variety of post graduate specialisations. If you or anyone you know would like to have a physiotherapy assessment with the team at Dorking , Leatherhead or Crawley , contact us here.

Blog post written by Sam Bowden, Head2Toe Physiotherapist and Director at Head2Toe Dorking, Leatherhead, & Crawley Clinics.