24 Easy Stretches Before Walking That Make Every Step Easier

Have you ever started a walk only to feel tightness in your legs? Or even a dull ache in your hips or lower back? It can take the fun out of your walk and make you question how long you will be able to walk. Stretches before walking gently warm up your muscles to help you walk with ease and comfort. Just like learning how to warm up before lifting can prevent injury and improve performance, warming up before walking prepares your body for movement and reduces the risk of discomfort. This article will help you avoid the discomforts that can come from starting a walk cold. Instead, you will learn valuable insights to help you walk with ease, comfort, and confidence, free from tightness, pain, or early fatigue.
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Pliability's mobility app offers an effective solution to help you achieve your walking goals. Their easy-to-follow dynamic stretch routines for walking will help you warm up before your walk, allowing you to enjoy the activity instead of worrying about how long you can go.

Why Stretch Before Walking?

Walking may seem like a simple, even easy activity, but it's a workout nonetheless. A recent study confirmed that walking is as effective as running or spinning, especially when done at a brisk pace of 100 steps per minute for 30 minutes or more (that’s approximately 3,000 steps). Like any workout, it pays to prep your body for walking. One of the best ways to do this? Stretching. 

Improve Circulation With Walking Stretches 

Stretching before walking helps to warm up and prepare your muscles for activity, which can 

improve your performance and reduce your risk of injury. “When done correctly, stretching helps prepare the muscles for activity and reduces the risk of injury if a muscle is too tight, it won’t be able to function as it should, which can lead to compensation and discomfort,” says Jeff Brannigan, PT, programming director at Stretch*d. He adds that everybody can benefit from cycling through a series of stretches before walking, because if you walk a lot, your muscles can become overworked and fatigued, which can lead to pain over time. 

Stretching Gets Your Blood Flowing 

Every step you take puts force on your foot, up your leg, into your glutes and hip. “Remember the childhood song that goes: ‘The ankle bone’s connected to the shin bone, the shin bone’s connected to the knee bone’? It’s not wrong everything is connected,” says Brannigan. Because of this, you’ll want to stretch the muscles that go all the way up your leg. 

Stretching Improves Flexibility 

Walking targets the major muscles of the legs (the calves and upper leg, quad and hamstrings), as well as the hips (adductor and abductor muscles, hip flexors and gluteals), core (rectus abdominus, obliques and the spinal erectors) and upper extremities (biceps, triceps and deltoids). With every step you take, you’re putting force on your foot, up your leg, into your glutes and hip. “Remember the childhood song that goes: ‘The ankle bone’s connected to the shin bone, the shin bone’s connected to the knee bone’? It’s not wrong everything is connected,” says Brannigan. Because of this, you’ll want to stretch the muscles that go all the way up your leg. 

Walking Stretches Help Prevent Injury 

Dynamic walking stretches can also help reduce your risk of injury. Walking is a very repetitive, low impact activity. Most injuries associated with walking are chronic (repetitive overuse) injuries, although occasional trauma may occur.

Common walking injuries include: 

• Lower back strain
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome
• Hip flexor strain
• Hamstring strain
• Lower leg injuries, including:
  
  • Shin splints
  • Ankle sprain
  • Achilles tendinitis
• Plantar fasciitis

The more you warm up and prepare your muscles for your walking workout, the less likely you’ll be to experience these common injuries. 

Stretches Before Walking: What To Focus On 

With every step you take, you’re putting force on your foot, up your leg, into your glutes and hip. “Remember the childhood song that goes: ‘The ankle bone’s connected to the shin bone, the shin bone’s connected to the knee bone’? It’s not wrong everything is connected,” says Brannigan. Because of this, you’ll want to stretch the muscles that go all the way up your leg. 

1. Foot

Our feet get the brunt of the impact from our daily lives, and yet we rarely give them the attention they deserve. “Not only is the foot an often neglected area, but it’s also your first point of contact with the ground when walking, so this is a good place to start,” says Brannigan. Your toes, heels, and ankles can all benefit from a stretch series. 

2. Calf

Too-tight calves are a breeding ground for injuries, including shin splints, calf pulls, and even stress fractures, so you’ll want to keep them nice and loose to avoid injury, pre-walk or otherwise.

 3. Quad

Your quads are made up of four muscles and account for the most significant section of your leg. When the rectus femoris (which is part of both your quad and your hip flexor) is chronically tight, it can cause the misdirected tracking of your kneecap, and that can lead to pain and dysfunction down from your hip to ankle. 

4. Hamstring

“Tight hamstrings reduce the mobility of the pelvis, which can put pressure on the low back,” Samira Mustafaeva, a gymnast and founder of SM Stretching, previously told Well+Good. Aside from being uncomfy during your walk, this can also throw off your body’s alignment and posture, and lead to lower back pain. 

5. Hip

If you spend most of your day sitting (which most of us do), chances are you’ve got tight hips. Stretching them out regularly and cycling them through their full range of motion with controlled articular rotation moves at least once every day can help with their mobility. 

The Best Way To Stretch Before Walking 

And not any stretch will do. There are very specific ways to stretch before and after a walk to optimize performance, reduce injury, and increase flexibility. Rather than just holding a stretch for 30 seconds or a minute (also known as static stretching), experts recommend dynamic stretching, which involves more active movements. 

Dynamic stretching is designed to warm up your muscles, not just stretch them, which can lead to damage without proper preparation. “Think of our muscles similar to a rubber band,” said Dylann Craig, PT, owner of Impact Physical Therapy. “If you stretch them while they are cold, they are less pliable, but when heated up they are much more elastic.”

Dynamic stretching improves blood flow to your muscles, helps to ease movement in your joints, and is an all-around better way to prepare your body for dynamic movements like walking, said Helene Darmanin, PT, DPT, CSCS, founder of Mama Bear Physical Therapy. So before you hit the roads, the trails, the treadmill, or wherever you're getting your steps today, take a few minutes to get your muscles warm and loose.

Ahead, check out dynamic stretches that physical therapists recommend adding to your pre-walk routine to stay pain- and injury-free.

Related Reading

• How to Workout When Tired
• Why Do Weights Feel Heavier Some Days
• Stretching vs Warming Up
• What Are the Benefits Associated With Warming Up Before Exercise?

24 Most Important Stretches Before Walking

The importance of warming up before exercise, mainly walking, cannot be overstated. Warming up prepares your muscles, increases blood flow and helps prevent injuries. Dynamic stretches are an excellent way to prepare your body for exercise. 

They help increase your range of motion and promote flexibility. Static stretches, on the other hand, help ease tension in tight muscles. While these types of stretches should not be performed on cold muscles, they are great for warming up before walking. Here are 24 stretches to add to your walking routine. 

1. Ankle Circles

• Position yourself straight, both feet facing forward, aligned with the hips.
• Raise one foot off the ground and lift in front of you, balancing on the other leg. 
• Flex the raised ankle through its full range of motions: up/down; left to right. 
• Now rotate the foot from the ankle 5 times clockwise, 5 times anti-clockwise. 
• Return foot to the floor and repeat for the other foot and ankle. 
• Complete 5-10 reps for each foot.

2. Arm Circles

• Stand straight, arms at your sides. 
• Raise both arms at 90 degrees on either side, forming your body in the shape of a letter “T.” 
• Rotate both arms backward through a circle, starting small and increasing the size of the circle with each rotation of the arm. 
• Rotate through 8-12 circles. 
• Shake out your arms and repeat with 8-12 forward circles. 
• Complete 2-5 sets of each rep (one rep = one completed backward or forward rotation stretch).

3. Leg Swings

• Position yourself as for Ankle Circles. 
• Raise one leg and swing it loosely backwards and forwards from the hip. 
• Keep it relaxed as you do so, allowing it to swing like a pendulum but no higher than one foot off the ground. 
• Complete 15-20 swings and then repeat for the other leg.

4. Standing Quad Stretch

Dr. Hwang recommended this as one of the best stretches you can do before walking. It targets your quadriceps muscle on the front of your thigh. 

• Start standing with your feet together and knees touching. If you need help balancing, hold a chair or wall for support. 
• Bend your left leg to bring your left foot up behind you, then grab your foot with your left hand and gently pull it toward your butt. 
• Keep your chest lifted and core tight. 
• Don't worry about how close your foot is to your butt; focus on the stretch on your left quad. 
• Hold for a few seconds, then release your left foot with control and place it on the floor. 
• Take a step forward and switch, repeating on your right leg. 
• If balance is a problem, perform this stretch next to a chair, wall, tree or any other stationary robust object and hold with your opposite hand. 
• You will get a better stretch if you are less anxious about toppling over.

5. Groin Stretch

• From an upright position with feet placed at shoulder-width, stretch your left leg forward into a lunge, bending your right knee towards the ground. 
• Hold for 10-15 seconds then repeat for the other leg. 
• Perform 5-8 sets per rep (one rep = one groin stretch for each leg).

6. Calf Stretch

• Stand straight, feet at shoulder-width. Stretch your right leg behind you, keeping your heel on the floor as you do so. 
• Bend your left knee and lean forward, feeling the stretch in the calf of your right leg. 
• Hold for 10-15 seconds. 
• Return to standing position and repeat for the opposite calf. 
• Perform 5 sets per rep (one rep = one calf stretch on each side).

7. Overhead Stretch

Walking not only affects your leg muscles, but it also hits your back muscles. The Overhead Stretch is an excellent exercise to relieve back tension and promote better posture. 

• Stand straight, facing forwards, feet aligned with your shoulders. 
• Bend your right arm up and over your head, dropping down towards your left shoulder. 
• Grab your right elbow with your left hand and pull gently down in the direction of your left shoulder. 
• Hold for 10-15 seconds, then release the hold and return both arms to the starting position. 
• Repeat for your left arm. 
• Perform 5 sets of each rep (one rep = one stretch both right and left).

8. Active Hamstring Stretch

“Hamstrings are typically tight,” which can affect leg and back motion, said Lucinda Bouillon, PT, PhD, associate professor and director of the doctor of physical therapy program at the University of Toledo. She recommended this hamstring stretch to loosen the muscle. 

• Start standing with your feet hip-width apart. 
• Shift your weight to your right leg and take a small step forward with your left leg. 
• Keep your left foot flexed, so your toes are pointing back towards your body and only your heel is on the ground. 
• Keep your back flat and your chest lifted as you reach your left hand toward your left toes. 
• Grab your toes if you can, or rest your hand on your knee or shin. 
• You can also bend your left leg slightly if you're extra tight. 
• You should feel a gentle stretch in the back of your thigh as you hold the position for a moment. 
• Tighten your core as you straighten back up to standing. 
• Step back with your left foot to return to the starting position. 
• Switch sides and repeat to stretch your right hamstring.

9. Dynamic Lunge

This dynamic lunge stretches the rectus femoris, “a hip flexor and quad muscle,” Dr. Darmanin said. This muscle can tighten up from sitting and cause back, hip or knee pain, she said, so it's a good idea to loosen it up before you start walking. 

• Start standing with your feet hip-width apart. 
• Step your right foot forward and lower down slightly into a high lunge, so your knee doesn't quite form a 90-degree angle. 
• Your left leg should be extended straight out behind you, far enough back so that your left heel is lifted off the ground. 
• Ensure that your core is tight and your spine is straight with your hands on your hips. This is your starting position. 
• Hold your torso and right (front) leg still as you bend your left knee slightly, lowering it but not to the ground. 
• Straighten your left leg again to return to the starting position. 
• Repeat, ensuring equal reps on both sides.

10. IT Band Stretch

Your IT band, which runs along the outside of your thigh, can also get tight from sitting, especially cross-legged, said Samantha DuFlo, PT, DPT, PRPC and RRCA-certified running coach. “Doing a standing ITB stretch can help prevent some common complaints from walkers and runners,” she said. 

• Start standing with your feet together. 
• Cross your left foot in front of your right, ensuring the outer edge of your left foot is touching the edge of your right (or as close as you can get.) 
• Bend in half at the waist and reach for the floor, keeping your core tight and back flat. 
• Press your right big toe into the floor to help you balance. 
• Touch your right hand to the ground right by your left foot, or as close as you can get. It's fine to place your hand on your foot, shin, or knee if you can't reach. 
• Then twist your upper body to the left, reaching your left arm to the ceiling. 
• You should feel a gentle pull on the outside of your right leg. 
• Hold for a few seconds. 
• Uncross your legs and switch legs to stretch the other side.

11. Rocking Wall Calf Stretch

“Calves are the most important muscle group for propelling us forward in walking,” Dr. Darmanin said. This dynamic calf stretch improves the flexibility of your ankle joint (the movement of pointing your toes toward your nose), which is a range of motion that can be lost if you sit too much, she explained. And when that happens, “we are more likely to twist an ankle or have knee or back pain,” she said. 

• Start with your hands pressed flat against a wall, arms fully extended. 
• Step your left leg back as you bend your right leg at the knee, coming into a high lunge. Keep your hands pressed against the wall, extending your left leg with your heel slightly off the ground. 
• Rock your weight forward. 
• Keep your right heel on the ground and push your right knee forward as much as possible, allowing your left heel to lift off the ground as you stretch your left calf. 
• Rock back into the starting position. 
• Repeat, making sure to do equal reps on both legs.

12. Dynamic Spinal Twist

This relaxing stretch targets your upper back, another area that can get tight from sitting and looking at screens, Dr. Darminin said. When that happens, “motion becomes concentrated in only the neck and lower back, causing stress in those areas, which can also cause discomfort in the hips and shoulders,” she explained. Loosening this area first can help you stay comfortable and pain-free on walks. 

• Start lying on your right side on the ground. 
• Bend your knees into the fetal position and stretch both of your arms out in front of you on the ground, with your right arm on bottom. 
• Open your left arm like a book, lifting it up and over your torso and allowing your chest to rotate open at the same time. 
• Place your left arm on the ground on the left side of your body, so that both arms are reaching out to the sides, and turn your head to the left. 
• Don't rotate your hips with your torso; instead, do your best to keep your hips stacked on top of each other, preventing them from rotating open with your chest. 
• Hold here for a couple seconds. 
• “Close” your arms, rotating your chest back to the right to return to the starting position. 
• Repeat, ensuring equal reps on both sides.

13. Standing Side Bend

A simple side bend helps to stretch all the muscles in your side, targeting the lats in your back, the muscles in your ribs, and your outer hip and leg muscles, said Chad Walding, DPT, physical therapist and co-founder of NativePath. Your side muscles get a workout when you walk, so it's essential to warm up and loosen them first.

• Stand with your feet hips-width apart and core pulled toward your spine. 
• Lift both hands over your head and interlace your fingers with your palms toward the ceiling. Inhale, straightening your spine toward the ceiling. 
• Maintain that length as you exhale and lean to the left, ensuring your hips and chest remain facing forward.
• Keep your core tight as you lean over. 
• Gently pulse your arms back toward the center and the ceiling, increasing the stretch in your right side. 
• Repeat the pulse a couple of times. Inhale as you straighten and return to the starting position. 
• Switch sides and repeat.

14. Ankle Angler

• Sitting on a chair or bench, place one foot on the floor and place your other, working leg on top of it in a figure-four position, resting your ankle on top of your knee. 
• Grab your working forefoot with your hand on the same side, and use your other hand to grasp your heel. 
• Point your exercising foot by rotating it inward so that the bottom of your foot faces you.

15. Smooth Walker

• Lying on your back, place the ball of one foot into the loop of a rope or strap. 
• Raise the looped leg so that it’s almost perpendicular to your body, and flex your foot by pointing your toes toward your chest. 
• Hold for a few seconds, then relax by pointing your toes toward the ceiling, then lower your leg to the ground.

16. Hello Hammies

• Lying on your back, place the foot of the leg you’re exercising into the loop of your rope or strap and hold the strap in both hands. 
• Lock your knee so that your leg is extended straight out, then lift your leg as high as you can using your glutes and hamstrings. 
• Flex your foot, and climb up the rope hand-over-hand. 
• Slowly return to the starting position.

17. Side Sweeper

• Lie on your back with your knee bent and foot planted, and place the foot of the opposite leg into a loop or strap. 
• Wrap the rope or strap around the inside of your ankle so that the opposite ends are on the outside of your leg, and lock your knee. 
• Extend your exercising leg out toward the side of your body, leading with your heel. Keep slight tension in the rope, then pull slowly back to start.

18. Crossover Stretch

• Lie on your back with both legs extended, holding a strap or loop both hands. 
• Put the foot of your exercising leg into the strap, and lift your leg straight up until it’s perpendicular to your body while climbing up the rope, hand over hand. 
• When your leg is fully extended, hold the ends of the strap in the opposite hand of the leg I’m working, and slightly bend your knee. 
• Extend your other hand out to the other side of your body to stabilize. 
• Keep slight tension in the rope as you bring your leg back up toward the sky, then slowly lower it to the ground.

19. Achilles Tendon Standing Stretch

If you tend to suffer from shin splints, practicing walking in place and incorporating this exercise into your stretching routine can help reduce pain and prevent the splints from recurring in the future. You don’t need much to accomplish this simple stretch, although you will need some sore of slightly elevated platform such as a curb or stepladder. 

‍Here’s how to do the Achilles tendon standing stretch: 

• The balls of your feet should be on the edge of the platform. 
• Make sure you can maintain balance in this position before entering into the stretch. Move one heel backward and let it hang off the edge. 
• Push that heel down until you can feel a stretch in the back of your ankle and through the calf. 
• Hold this position for about 30 seconds. 
• Switch legs. Do this simple stretch 2 or 3 times on each leg. 

Alternate Achilles Tendon Stretch: If the balance required for this Achilles tendon standing stretch is undoable for you, you can also use a resistance band to do a seated version. You’ll probably need a couple of chairs or a bed if you can’t get down on the floor. All you need to do is loop the band around one foot and pull on it until you can feel your Achilles tendon stretching.

20. Tibialis Anterior Muscle Stretch

Another great way to prevent shin splints, this exercise works out the front of your tibia muscle. It’s easy to do and it’s a great way to cool down after your walking exercise is complete. 

‍Here’s how to do a Tibialis Anterior Muscle Stretch: 

• Sit on the ground so that your shins are on the floor and the rest of your body is sitting on top of them. 
• Your right and left hand should be on the ground in front of you. 
• Raise yourself on your hands until you feel a stretch. 
• For a deeper stretch, lean forward. 
• Hold this pose for 15-30 seconds. Repeat up to 7 times, or as many as you can do.

21. Hinge to Reach

• Start standing with feet together; bend the knees slightly. 
• Hinge at the hips, lowering your upper body toward the ground at a 45-degree angle and reach both arms back behind me with palms up. 
• Then, stretch up tall, straightening the legs and coming up onto your toes, reaching both arms straight up overhead. 
• Continue alternating between the hinge and reach motion for at least 20 seconds.

22. Lateral Lunge with a Crossbody Reach

• Start with your feet slightly wider than hips-width apart. 
• Step the right foot out to the right, bending the right knee slightly to sink into a half lunge. 
• At the same time, reach the left arm across the body, feeling the twist in your torso. 
• Return to center. 
• Then, step the left foot out to the left, bending the left knee slightly to sink into a half lunge. 
• At the same time, reach the right arm across the body, feeling the twist in your torso. 
• Continue alternating sides for at least 20 seconds.

23. Roll-downs

This warms up your hamstrings, glutes, hip joints, and, as a bonus, your back. Instructions 

• Stand with your feet hip distance apart and your knees slightly bent. 
• Put your chin on your chest and tighten up your tummy muscles. 
• Roll your upper body down until you hang from your hips. 
• Take a deep breath in and relax further into the stretch as you breathe out. 
• Then, return to upright, reversing the movement by straightening your lower back, then your middle and upper back, and finally your neck. 
• Repeat 3 to 5 times.

24. Heel Raises

These warm up your calves and ankle joints. 

‍Instructions: 

• Stand with your feet hip distance apart.
• Slowly go up on your toes. 
• Hold for a second, and slowly lower yourself back down; again, don’t plonk down. 
• Do 10 repetitions, rest a bit (maybe do some squats), and then do 10 more. 
• Top tips Hold on to something for balance if necessary.

Related Reading

• Warmup Exercises for Seniors
• Stretches Before Running
• Warm Up Exercises Before Running
• Dynamic Warm Up for Athletes

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