Stop walking like an old person. Reversing your bad gait with retraining 

I'm 72 years old and a military vet (Vietnam Era) so I always walk like an ex military guy with good posture but one day, about eight years ago, I was meeting up with other retired MTA bus workers for the monthly retirement breakfast in Queens NYC. As we're entering the restaurant, I began walking like an old man until I caught myself. I immediately realized that I was unconsciously mimicking the old guys who were in front of me. Be alert to old, slumped over people around you!

I've been trying this for a month (I'm 70 yrs old) and discovered that it improved my mood as well as my posture. I found myself feeling happier and more confident in general just by paying attention to how I'm walking. Many thanks for this video!

Almost 70, even on days I'm feeling stiff and painful, I force myself to walk standing tall, with good posture and flexibility and head on a swivel. One big benefit not mentioned is that this makes us NOT look like someone who would make an easy victim by the criminal minded. They'll pick a 'softer' target.

My dad shuffled in his late eighties. I learned from that. In my late eighties now. Walk a minimum of one hour a day. Maintain a nice stride and do some walking backward daily.

Thank you for this video. I'm 79 and was shocked recently when family commented on my limp - which I didn't know I had. I even had my daughter video me walking because I didn't believe them. I couldn't work out why I wasn't walking normally. This video showed me what I was doing wrong. I wasn't moving my hips. Once I saw how I should be walking, I started practising and already find I'm moving more smoothly. Once it becomes more natural, I'll get her to video me again and see if that has fixed my limp.

My great grand son walks like me with my cane. Believe me, I pay attention to him as well as to my gait. I'm 88 but that's no excuse to not pay attention to how you lapse into bad habits. Thanks for this important reminder

This is the first time I've seen this explained. But I've noticed the same thing. I'm 67 and exercise every day and walk almost every day. I walk mindfully, changing my stride, lifting my feet and running for portions. I've noticed most of the older walkers look like weebles, wobbling back and forth. I've never understood why this is so. I'll continue to walk mindfully and keep my posture strong.

Wow, I am glad I watched this. I have been noticing this ‘aged’ gait in recent videos of myself and figured it was “just what happens”. This deliberate walking approach is excellent. Thank you,

Thank you. I'm 82 and have noticed my walking deteriorating. I like that I have a positive assured feeling and confidence when walking as you recommend. I will practice it and most likely it become a "good" ; ) habit. The last readers comment is also right on "you won't look like an available victim". I've seen that happen. Thanks again.

This popped up on my feed. Thanks. 70 yr old woman doing all I can to keep it moving correctly without pain.

Thank you for making this video. I’m 75 years old and walk with the poor gait your video shows. I know I can retrain myself to walk the way I walked when I was younger, just by following the examples in your video. The video is going to make a big difference for me.

Thank you, Scott. I’m a fairly healthy 66 year old welder who walks hunched over after getting out of my truck after work. Lower back, front top of my legs at the hip, neck especially at the base of my skull - all tight and moderately painful as I try to straighten up and walk like I used to. I’m beginning to get self conscious about my posture, so now must be the perfect time to start fixing it. I’ve been thinking a lot lately that maybe I’m physically too old to continue doing this job, but after watching your walking demonstration and seeing your level of fitness I’m inspired to come up with a simple fitness routine I can do a few times per week to fix my gait and enjoy being active again.

I'm 74. A few years ago, during a physical therapy session, the therapist pointed out that I was not lifting my knees when walking, merely swinging my legs. Although it feels like marching if I lift my knees to walk, and makes me think other people will see it as marching, I still try to practice lifting my knees when I think of it, not yet a common practice for me. Recently I attempted to begin using the technique you're talking about; not sure how I managed to think of it, but it immediately felt better, more youthful, to move my shoulders and swing my arms while walking. I have some peripheral neuropathy in both feet and have developed bad habits over the years, including the old man walking style. Thank you for this video, reminding me that I need to keep at it, and confirming what appeared to be true.

Important lesson for we seniors. After seeing his stunning back, ⚡️I had trouble focusing on his words.

I've seen twenty somethings with crap gait. I did ballet as a child and am now in my fifties so my gait has never been an issue. It s a really helpful pod for us fifty somethings. Thanks!

What I like about deliberate walking is that I can do it anywhere. I'm very much into Natural Movement and not "exercising" but instead using deliberate movement to use my normal activities to strengthen my body rather than going to a gym. I've been changing my gait from the feet up. This is a great addition to my deliberate walking habit.

I'm 70 and have been working with an excellent personal trainer for one year. About 3 months ago we began doing something called "scapula push-ups" basically activating the muscles between the scapulas. It was very difficult at first. Weeks went by but we continued to activate these underused and important muscles. Then, a month ago, one day I suddenly noticed that I could super easily pull my shoulders back. And my whole posture changed. I now walk with the shoulders back, and it is a bit tiring, but I feel much younger and more youthful and it LOOKS GOOD as well. My whole gait has become more youthful. Hope this is useful.

Ive been doing yoga for years. Im almost 68 and feel and walk like a youngster. Love it!! Creates great strength and flexibility.

I know why people walk that side to side gait because I found myself doing it. It's from the pain from the hip joints. When I got older, I suddenly got hip and shoulder joints pain. Doing that side to side gait doesn't hurt when you walk. The normal walk hurts a little. So you unconsciously walk for minimal pain.

WHAT???!!! Thank you for pointing this out. I’ve been going to PT for sciatica and drop foot. All on the right side. Hopefully with the help of this video and the knowledge of PT sessions, will be a life changing experience.

Sir! Your back muscles are spectacular!

At 80 years old I wake up with that lumbering walk. I've been instinctively stretching the upper back every which way while holding onto the kitchen counter. Also, holding a sock half full of barley in each hand, I swing the "weights" alternately while walking. Doing these for 10 or 15 minutes within one minute of getting out of bed are "required" so I can wake up. Now I can do them with your "healthy gait" in mind and work toward more improvement.

I'd like to check this out. I've been 6'6" since I was 17 and have had poor posture all my life. I'm trying to stand up straight as this increases with age and I'm now a pretty healthy 78. Ugh! To my credit, I do swim 2-3 times a week, 1/4 mile and clearly you've been body builder. Congrats! I like the concept and this is the first one I've seen that seem to make sense. Thanks!

I noticed my brother walking side to side a few yrs after knee replacement. I asked him why he was walking like an old man, your explanation and video is very informative. Thank you. Now I must pay more attention to my own walk.

… as a German Biologist - Every day I am surprised and enchanted meeting OLD Persons above 70 Years to 90 Years OLD With Excellent Posture and Attitude Embracing LIFE Versus the 1000´s with horrible posture Early on hanging over their 4 wheeler Walkers With Bad Posture and BAD Attitude Reminds me myself to be careful with my own attitude and posture Life is wonderful when you embrace it

Brilliant! I'm blessed to catch this (I'm 72, thinking about these things lately.) Much grateful to you🙏 👍 Sincerely, Bernard Popp

THIS IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO SEE THIS MORNING!!!! I look at myself last night and I thought, "Oh No"! I could see my back rounding in a very obvious way. I AM WALKING TODAY USING THIS FORM AND FOR EVER MORE! Thank YOU!!!❤❤❤❤

I practiced it this morning and results were phenomenal. Walked faster with better balance and less fatigue. I will practice and incorporate all the other things you suggested in your other videos!

73 yr old great gran and walk like I'm 100 - I start your technique tomorrow. Thanks so much!

At 73 I've noticed that my natural gait was getting lazy. I work one day a week at a golf course putting out carts for the days rounds. This requires a significant amount of walkig so I've been concentrating on my posture. Maintaining an upright stance as I move creates a spring in my step that makes my whole body feel better, more alive.

I’m 74 and teach qigong. I’ve just started to direct my teaching to older people and this has given me some insight into breaking down functional movement. Thanks

I think a big problem is most of us older people stay in the house most of our time. It is not necessary to take long strides and it becomes habitual to take small steps when walking from one room to another. In my case, scoliosis doesn't help my gait at all.

Excellent! At 82, I have noticed my gait changing. I will try this...thank you!!!

I'm a martial artist and engineer and I discovered what you demonstrate as a key secret to power and lots more. I first heard of type of movement when skiing. I was a downhill ski instructor and was studying. A book showed an image of a spring coiling and uncoiling. In fact the Chinese in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, speak to coiling also. In skiing you want the skis “across the fall line”. What this means is that the skis spend a lot of time approaching perpendicular to the slope of the hill. Otherwise you'd go too fast. To move the skis back and forth across the fall line quite quickly requires twisting of the core of the body. This is initiated with the arms like in your demonstration. But in skiing you reach forward and outwards across, with the arm opposite of the next turn, thus building torque or tightening of the spring of the body. Reaching forwards with the ski pole also helps keep the body posture correct. This way the movements of the skis are very quick and without much effort. The energy is stored in the body's twists. I was studying the way horses develop power. It's very similar. They move power down the spine in a rotational manner. They store and release energy this way with great efficiency. There's more to the way that they store energy but that's a big player. After many years of martial arts training, I was searching for “secrets of power”. I was discovering how to develop great “internal” power. I realized the importance of torque or rotational energy from the ground up. The hips being the largest bone in the body. Twisting the hips in the direction of a punch or other strong movement develops a tightening of the body's core. Thinking of the core as a massive “spring”. It's like a spring twisting in one direction, developing stored torque energy, then release. This can be done visibly or invisibly. But it's critical movement even just for an ordinary person moving, walking, etc. Largely with this concept I've been able to break boards with a “one inch” and even “no inch” punch. When combined with correct posture and correct seeing, it's both formidable and adds greatly to safety. I learned in kata to keep my head on straight by using my eyes to watch the horizon. If the horizon bobbed up and down then I either was moving up and down too much or not looking straight ahead. We can use this concept to ensure we are gazing ahead and not looking downwards. It's when we look downwards that the chest collapses and we become very easy to topple. The head must be balanced on top of the spine. This posture is critical in many aspects of martial arts from freedom of movement to moving physical and ki energy through the body for purpose. Thus what you are exposing is a “secret” to development of great power in martial arts, the ability to rapidly turn skis, to walk safely and efficiently, and to move fluids and run the internal pumps of the body more fully. The only thing I do a bit differently is that I not only twist the upper body, but the hips also twist in the opposing directions. In other words the hips participate in the walking. The forward foot and hip move forwards together, while the shoulders are in the opposing twist to set up the energy and torque for the next step. One Master taught me to “walk with my hips”. I essentially practice my martial arts every time I walk, in every step I take. Good video.

73 yrs old here. Thanks, I'll practice that, walking from the couch to the kitchen and back again.😊

I’m 52 and I noticed I was walking differently than I remembered. I saw myself in my ring doorbell video. My mom who is 80!said ‘ that’s the waddle… you’re too young! Give it up! Thanks for this. :)

An easy way to do this without thinking so much about it is to tighten your ab muscles slightly while walking around. It almost comes automatically.

I'm 73 and have noticed in recent years that my steps have become shorter, not yet a shuffle, but headed in that direction, so I make an effort to lengthen my stride. Now thanks to your video, I have another tip to help stop me from walking like an old person.

This started for me at a very early age after a injury, like at age 2. I had to learn how to walk correctly. Everything was going great until I faced a severe injury when I was 10 which left me paralyzed for some time. . When I was 38 I finally received proper medical care, and have to focus on a daily basis's on walking. I have thoracic spine/rib problems, serious neck injuries compounded by birth anomalies, and it is extremely painful to move my arms. However I must face the pain or I will stiffen up.

Thanks for the information, it really helped reverse my bad gait. Also, could you possibly make a video showing how to reverse the feeling of inadequacy I felt when you took your shirt off,revealing a back built like a f**king superhero?

A picture is worth 1000 words. Thank you for modeling how this works. It is very clear now.

Damn, brother is in good shape. Looks like weights and yoga. To the extreme. 45 years of cycling/racing. It's like this video was made just for me. Thank you.

I'm 78 years old and what I find, is that I wobble rather than walk. And that is a fairly recent development of the last year or so. I started using a cane, but I found the cane was too short causing a slight stoop, and that none of them seem to come up to the right height. I have since taken to using a walking stick which is at the right height, so there is no stooping. The walking stick prevents wobbling, which makes me look drunk, and keeps me from tripping. I find myself taking long walks and the terrain can be challenging depending on where I am in San Francisco, so the walking stick becomes indispensable for stability and comfort.

Thank you for your generosity in sharing this life changing information. Well done Scott and God Bless.

Excellent video! I’m 63 and when I was in my early 50’s I noticed I had developed a poorly walking gait like a side to side movement. Ugh 😑 I started correcting that but I can still feel myself returning back to that at times with multiple injuries , stress poor sleep etc… Seeing this video is a great reminder to pay attention to my steps as I walk. Thank you 🙏

All my life I've seen many people, even young ones, who don't swing their arms as they walk, just letting them dangle awkwardly. It's painful to see. At 63 I've become increasingly aware of how erectly I walk compared to many of my peers who hunch and shuffle. Going dancing regularly seems to help a lot, too. When I was 24 I crushed my T12 in a skydiving landing accident and was nearly immobile for months until I could "unfreeze" my back through therapy. I recall at the time being frustrated with walking like I was 80. Argent's "Hold Your Head Up" is not just a cool song, it's good advice!

Really appreciated this video. It is exactly what I must and want to do. I have a fully fused, caged Lumbar spine and the fusion rods attached done to my S1 S2 and pelvis tip. This rotation of my Thorasic mid-back, as you demonstrated, is so very helpful for me to build on. I have the bent-over 66-year-old with massive body damages broken man walk. This situation happens to break my spirit and soul, that I will have to be forever and what seems to be my prison of a posture. You have given me hope and goals to fight for. Thanks 😂

Thanks! Caught myself as a 71yr old moving about in a video. What an awful gait. Thank you for this to work on.

Good video. I swim twice a week too, which involves the alternating left-right twist with each arm alternate reaching up and back.

Thank you for showing a younger walking gait for us seniors. I may not look 75 years young but I have noticed an improvement to my walking with your video. I am a new subscriber and looking forward to your suggestions for a healthy life.

Im 75, had bad knees for decades. After knee replacement, I had to learn to walk again. I now walk as you describe. I feel much better. Thanks for the very helpful advise. I now walk 45 min a day, including uphill walking.

Just turned 70 and I can certainly relate. I'm definitely going to give this a try for a couple of weeks and see what happens. Thanks.😊

Thank you. I'm 62, knee arthritis and have noticed I wobble. Your method is helping.

Im 70 and just realized how awful my posture looked! I walk ilje my back is hurting, even when it's not!!!! Thanks 😅

Thank you for this. I’m 61 years old, but I feel young and I’m in very good shape for my age, except for being overweight. I had to install some security cameras at my job for the company and when I saw video of myself walking in the shop, I must admit I was surprised. I’m starting to walk like an old guy and I don’t like it. It’s nothing like you demonstrated, but I definitely don’t want to get to that stage.

My 94 year old mom taught me to rotate my arms so palms are forward as you walk. It gets you in a better posture and keeps you from slumping over. I don't know if she learned it at Tai Chi or Yoga but it works.

Im so glad i found this channel. Better late then never.

Almost 80 yo noticed I was walking like an old person. this video changed all that. thanks so much

Wow this is it - we have security cameras and one day I watched an alert of me walking to my car. I noticed I was walking funny but couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. So glad your video popped up in my feed, this is awesome! Thank you!!

This morning my husband imitated me walking like my 96 year old father!!! Shocking! I’m implementing this method post haste!! Thank you for this excellent video Doc Popp.

I’m 77, walk w/a cane and know I look old b/c the cane makes me stoop over. Your video was helpful, thx.

Excellent and very useful video. Would love to see more instructions from you on how to walk more efficiently. Thanks!

This is great, because it's so simple. If anyone wants to age well, this is surely a great place to start.

Incredible. I noticed the old-person gait at the supermarket before watching this video. As a person well into his 60s, I was wondering if this gait was inevitable or something that could be avoided. Thanks!

Dear Fellow man Scott, please say it SIMPLY for Everybody: Let's ALL Walk VIVIDLY Forever, with ALL the parts of our body Moving... and not walk like we are tired!!! LET'S LOVE OURSELF and MAKE him-her LIVE VIVIDLY... until our Life stops!!! I Promise I will not Ever stop working out and feeling VIVID!!! Sofronis an ELLINAS (Greek) FROM Makedonia of ELLADA (Greece).

This -alone -is everything in a nutshell. Thank you. Just some real help.

Damn, doc, I didn't see that back development coming. Good job.

I'm 84 , ex-RAF and have been walking like this for decades. If elders watch just one YT vid, it should be this excellent, short account that works!. I would add that if you walk regularly on your own, swing your arms as seen here, but walk at 120 paces per minute, no less. It's no accident that armed forces in this country march at this pace; it is easy and so beneficial...and non-tiring. PS.when walking, breath in, expanding stomach, for 8 paces, breath out for 3-4.

Great explanation. Most of my geriatric patients either walker with a walker or have a difficult time balancing so they ambulate with a wide base of support and zero hip rotation.

This is a great, concise video with some great advice! I'm a healthy 63 year old but I am always looking for ways to "stay young" and this is something that I'll watch out for!

i see people walking like this! and have always thought why are you walking old? great info! ive always walked like you have explained im 62 and im not old! much love!

Thanks my husband and I knew we were heading in the wrong direction and now we know how to fix it. THANK YOU!

Thank you! So well explained and your demonstration really showed what a difference this makes.

Ha -- I catch myself doing that-- and I have a T- shirt that says " IT's WEIRD being the same age as old people!".. ha. I needed this.. THANKS.

Following your advice, I felt the stretching taking place by merely walking properly, which is a good sign. I cycle, work out, and do stretching, but still my posture suffers from a lack of walking with proper form. This really helps, thank you.

Thank you ,love to see why balance is becoming an issue late 70s

Practicing revolved yoga poses will greatly help stretch and loosen up thoracic muscles. Try revolved low lunge, the revolved high lunge, then progress to revolved triangle pose. Hold each pose for 20 seconds and be sure to keep breathing!

I recently begain walking 5-7 miles a day. Several times during the walk I remind myself with ‘deliberate walk’ as you mention. I focus on full extension of the leg until I really feel my glute push up when one leg is fully extended back.

When I was a kid I had bad posture, I remember straightening up and being aware of posture. Now at 62 I still have good posture, constantly correcting and bad tendencies.

Excellent 👍. At 76years old, this is a big help. Thanks🙏

Greetings from New Zealand. Great video, very helpful. Thank you 😊

What you present as the incorrect walk is what I have called the "homeboy" walk , ie. how the dudes in the city are trying to look tough . I am 74 and I see that "waddle " walk , my other term for it, all the time when I go to the supermarket or Walmart . Especially among heavy set , er fat , people and as you say many in their 30's , both men and women . I have delivered Meals On Wheels for 17 years , stairs are a welcome challenge for me . With two knee replacements the walking keeps my legs in better shape than they were in my 50's . And I don't waddle but walk as you demonstrate . Cheers and thank you for the affirmation on what is proper walking .

You looked like the terminator walking 😁. I will add this exercise, always looking for healthy aging tips.

Excellent and very helpful. I'm going to get in front of a mirror and see how I walk. I know my body feels tight and my balance is definitely not what it used to be. I'll be turning 65 this summer and good health has always been important to me. But some problems can sneak up on you and I don't want my walking to be a problem because it affects so many other parts of the body!

I just realized after watching this that I walk shockingly badly and also realize how wearing a cross body bag is limiting my gait. Time to make some changes. Thank you. Subscribed for more timely info.

Thank you so much for sharing this! I will start this today.

My neighbour is 70 and from behind or from a distance you’d think he was a 20yr old from how he walks, then you see 20yr olds staring at their phone walking like a 70yr old

Excellent! in ballroom dancing, we call it counter body action !! thanks ❤

I am the Terminator now. I'll be back.

Sir, your in very good shape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Scott Popp. I have learned this is true by doing what is called power walking. It works; I lost 20 pounds just by power walking.

Just happened upon your video Scott. It's great! I'm 73 and my gait and posture have been more and more on my mind. I will definitely try out your approach. Thank you!

I'm 41 and consider myself very healthy over all and I like to pay attention to this kinds of advice to keep feeling better longer.

Leading with the hips, instead of head, helps, too. I imagine I'm being pulled forward by a rope attached to my belt buckle.

I am 70 and aware that this is an issue. I find that posture is very important to gowning old healthfully. I have an old back injury which is why I am aware of this issue. I try to maintain good alignment in my spine with my head over my hips. I find myself slumping sometimes and to retrain my spine, I try to assume the posture and alignment of an athlete about to throw a javelin with all his might. Interestingly, this mental exercise causes my spine to align perfectly. Thanks for posting.

Good video. I’m 62 and am becoming conscious of need to work on all elements of body while aging. Thank you. Subscribed.

I’m 66. After waking up, around 6 in the morning, a cup of coffee and a banana I work out for more than an hour. In the late afternoon I do 3 series of correct executed pushups, abs or neck training. I practice I.F. For over 8 years now. I eat healthy and have banned all but natural sugars. I don’t drink alcohol (not a drop) and I don’t smoke. Every day I meditate for a hour. Once every 3 months, sometimes longer, never shorter, I eat a solution of cannabis prepared in butter. When I go for a walk in the afternoon I still feel like 30. I don’t have any knee, back or other health problems. I don’t take any medication. I don’t give a toss about reaching 70, 80, 150, or 250 years. What I do care about is my well being, physically, mentally and emotionally in the here and know. And I can assure you I feel great from early morning until bedtime.

As a seventy year old guy who as had three strokes and whose balance processing has been VERY adversely affected, I'd like to also add that FEAR OF FALLING and fractures causes many older folks to walk with their feet apart; this makes the weight transfer impossible without rocking back and forth. By consciously pointing my toes a bit inward and walking with my feet IN A SINGLE LINE, the pelvic swivel occurs naturally. The counter-rotation of the shoulders produces a net body rotation of zero and balances my gait and posture so that my head remains facing forward. 🙏

Seeing this is a reminder so I will keep it in mind! Great wake up call!

This is the kind of video that should go viral, brilliant stuff!