Swinging your arms when you walk

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I had never thought about whether or not I swung my arms whilst I was walking. However, since reading this thread I haven't been able to stop thinking about how my arms are swinging. So, because I am now conscious of it, my arms are undoubtedly swinging strangely, even if they didn't before!!

I've noticed that for the most part my arms do not swing when I walk, and if they do, it tends to be very muted.

Arm swing is controlled by the basal ganglia which is buried deep inside the brain. It's thought that in people who has AS, TS, and OCD, the basal ganglia isn't working properly and causes in the case of AS, people like us to have poor motor skills, and for TS and OCD for them to have their characteristic traits.

I remember when I was around 13 years old, my mom pointed out that I wasn't swinging my arms when I walked. It took me a while to conciously practice it. I don't have to think about it any more, it comes naturally now.

Like BEC and Sophist, I swing unevenly, the right arm much more than the left. I go to a YMCA in the morning, and friends there have noticed this while I'm on the treadmill and mentioned it to me out of curiosity.

I used to carry them at my sides like dead weights, then while in high school i carried them in such a way, combined with my slouching that made me look like i was out looking for brains with dr frankestein. Now i carry my right hand out with a my index finger extended, like im making a point, and my left arm behind me like the back swing of a jog.

I think generally nowadays I swing fairly naturally (just my left arm cos I tuck my handbag under my right one), but I know I have had times of sort of having to think through really 'natural' things like breathing and swinging. When I was a kid, I just to sort of march with my legs, arms, elbows and head all jerking around!

It is thought by some people that a correct cross-pattern (arms and legs swinging on the opposite side if that makes sense) is essential to development, and that if a correct pattern is not established you will suffer from brain damage, thus I spent almost a year crawling, running and creeping to get a correct cross-pattern when I was 10 years old! Scarily, it helped! And just for the record, it's not just about balance, as not all animals use the cross-pattern.

I remember walking with my Dad one day and he told me to swing my arms, so ever since then I have. But I do forget every so often.

When I was child/teen I didn't swing my arms when I walked. My explication was simple.

Most people were less evolved than me and they swing their arms because they are more closely related to Monkeys than me. Monkeys swing in trees using their arms, this is called Braciation – using the upper limbs as a means of locomotion. Most people swing their arms because the movement is related to humans past shared ancestry with monkeys. I really did not see the point of moving my arms, I felt it was superior and I was more evolved than other people.

I swing my arms now. Despite the difference in increased efficiency as little as 2%, may be?

I h ad to conciously walk around and notice whether or not I swing my arms before I could reply....

Not only do I barely swing my arms, I also hold them down stiffly and wiggle my figertips rhythmically as I walk.....yeah, I think I must look a bit strange!