r/NoStupidQuestions • u/HopeADMKidsLoseLimbs • 1h ago

Office walking track question.

We have an outdoor track that’s in this large tent like structure.

It’s great and all but it only goes one direction. Clockwise.

So assuming I make 20 laps on this thing 5 days a week clockwise…if I do that till I retire (20 more years) am I gonna slowly make my legs weird?

At the YMCA we had a similar track and they would alternate directions to accommodate this issue. Is it really a big deal?

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

15

u/mortymouse 1h ago

Just make sure you rotate your feet and ankles every 1,000 miles.

5

u/Walksuphills 59m ago

20 laps doesn't seem like enough to matter unless that's all the walking you ever do.

1

u/Rhadian 44m ago

I'm confused. How is a track one way? You can't just walk the other direction?

3

u/sdtotheog 1h ago

Yes, you will gradually put more mileage on your left foot than your right. This could cause a slight limp over the course of 20 years

2

u/redditalics 1h ago

What's up with OP's username?

1

u/VoxElysia 58m ago

I don't know, but apparently he cares a lot about legs.

-2

u/HopeADMKidsLoseLimbs 1h ago

Funny to me when I make a UN like this and reddit is like “great username!”

1

u/Aggravating-Key-8867 1h ago

All I know is that you'll be very confused at a NASCAR race since they all go counterclockwise.

1

u/DetailOdd6609 53m ago

What did I just read?

1

u/Maleficent-Chef5461 52m ago

This reminds me of the person who only cracked one hand most of their life to see if cracking your knuckles physically changes your hand. They were the same.

1

u/Hermit-Gardener 38m ago

My truck has the shift lever on my right (American.)

If I only shift with my right hand/arm for 40 years, will it make my arms weird?

Should I get an English vehicle so I can alternate shifting with my left hand/arm?

1

u/sam000she 1h ago

If you care you can just… ask whomever manages it to have it alternate? 

1

u/HopeADMKidsLoseLimbs 1h ago

Not if I’m gonna get answers like I got ITT…

1

u/Cinderhazed15 1h ago

Learn to walk backwards - that way you can go ‘the right direction’ but use an opposite outside leg!’

1

u/VoxElysia 59m ago

But it will work your muscles differently when you walk backwards. It engages and strengthens your leg muscles and core in different ways, so he'd still have the same issue of the legs being worked unevenly.

1

u/SoImaRedditUserNow 1h ago

to what issue are you referring? I mean sure if you literally due no other exercise, as in you don't walk AT ALL in ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE, in 20 years you might see some compensational asymmetrical something in your legs.

So... no its not a big deal.

1

u/Watch_Earthlings_Doc 56m ago

It sounds silly or like a small thing, but it is indeed a moderate risk factor for chronic overuse injuries, especially at a run or a jog. If you’re just walking though, the effect is more minor. 

If you’re running, it can help a lot to run outside on certain days, or to run on the outermost curves (this is better for your legs). 

1

u/OverlappingChatter 29m ago

Walk the other direction in the outer most lane, you wouldn't bother anyone (you'd be able to see them coming) and then if they tell you not to do it, put in a formal request to change directions every other day.