Walking injuries are common, but an exercise physiologist says you can avoid them by warming up with these two exercises

Group of women in activewear outside performing the squat movement.

Walking may be a low-impact exercise, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely risk-free. Walking injuries are more common than you might think, but preparing your body to walk with targeted exercises can reduce the chances of that happening, according to Milica McDowell, a doctor of physical therapy and exercise physiologist.

She explains that the two main ways people get injured when walking are by walking too far or too fast before their bodies are ready, or by falling.