Change Your Walk, Change Your Mood

You may have noticed that you walk differently depending on your mood. It’s more likely that someone will slouch and face downward if they are sad. People let us know they are happy with spring in their step and a more open physical posture. Although mood influences walking style, a recent scientific study demonstrates that it also works in the reverse: if we imitate a happy walking style, it can make us feel happier.

Some participants in the study – presented in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry – were instructed to walk with their shoulders slumped and with little motion in their arms, to simulate typical behavior of those experiencing depression. Those participants reported more negative moods than those who walked in a more buoyant fashion typically associated with positivity.

Mood study used positive and negative words

Queens University senior fellow Nikolaus Troje, one of the lead researchers, is known for a previous study that convincingly demonstrated that people walk differently when they are healthy than they do when experiencing depression.

The researchers presented each participant with a list of words associated with negativity (such as “anxious”) and positivity (such as “pretty”). Then they were instructed to use a treadmill as their posture and gait were monitored. A screen presented an indicator that shifted to the right or left based on the negativity or positivity of the walking approach. Participants were unaware what specifically about their motions the indicator was assessing. The authors asked some of the depression study participants to attempt to shift the indicator left; others were asked to shift it to the right.

Troje commented, “They would learn very quickly to walk the way we wanted them to walk.”

Measuring mood via recall

Following the study, participants were told to jot down whatever words they recalled from the pre-treadmill word list. Participants that were in the slouched, unhappy walking group recalled significantly more words from the negative category. The fact that those using a depressive style of walking remembered more negative information is evidence that walking with poor posture could lead to depression.

This research joins other studies that have explored the link between mood and memory. Research has shown that people diagnosed with depression tend to have stronger memories of negative occurrences. Continuing to relive negative experiences creates a depression feedback loop, in a sense. The good news, says Troje, is that “if you can break that self-perpetuating cycle, you might have a strong therapeutic tool to work with depressive patients.”

This study links bad moods to negative walking styles, but unhappiness and depression also often coexist with chronic pain.  You don’t have to suffer. At Diagnostic Health & Injury, we treat a wide variety of pain disorders. Call us now for our Free New Patient Offer: 337-240-9785.