2 Always wear socks: They don’t need to be overly thick, but make sure that they aren’t going to wrinkle in your shoes, which can create blisters.

3 Shin splints are tears or strains in the muscle that’s attached to the tibia. If you feel one coming on, “walk more slowly and let your leg relax. Flex and extend your foot, bring your knee up to your chest, rotate your ankle and stretch your thigh muscle. Your shins will toughen up over time,” Weinrib explains.

4 Posture is key for the proper functioning of your whole body. Keep your head up, with your chin parallel to the ground, chest elevated, shoulders level and upper back straight. Your knees and ankles should line up with your hips. Don’t hyperextend your knees as you walk.

5 Do your stretches (after walking a bit to warm up the muscles): “Hip rotations are great—and look very sexy! Circle your ankles, then flex and point your toes. Put one leg on a bench and bend forward from the waist so you’re stretching your leg and upper back.”

6 Swing your arms to increase your cardiovascular workout. “You don’t need to carry weights!” says Weinrib. “They discovered that it does nothing but cause strain and pain. The lighter you are, the better your walk.”

7 “Walking in heels tightens calf muscles and increases the curve in the lower back, which can cause terrific back pain in the form of sciatica or disk compression.” Meanwhile, wearing flip-flops on concrete can cause fallen arches. Put an insert into flats for cushioning and support so your foot doesn’t flatten out.

8 Everything you carry can create back pain and compromise alignment, so only tote the essentials and make sure to balance bags on either side of you. A backpack is best (wear the weight on your back, not your shoulders), or a messenger bag on one side with the strap on the other shoulder. “If you must carry a shoulder bag,” warns Weinrib, “at least switch the side on which you carry it regularly.”