It Sounds Crazy, But Walking Backwards Is Really, Really Good For You

[Warpy]

Yet walking is more complicated than many of us realize. Remaining upright requires coordination between our visual, vestibular (sensations linked to movements such as twisting, spinning or moving fast) and proprioceptive (awareness of where our bodies are in space) systems.

When we walk backwards, it takes longer for our brains to process the extra demands of coordinating these systems. However, this increased level of challenge brings with it increased health benefits.

https://www.sciencealert.com/it-sounds-crazy-but-walking-backwards-is-really-really-good-for-you

Good article, tips on getting started if you have balance or mobility issues. I tried it, of coures, and walked across the room with no problem, kilogram of titanium in my right leg and all. Guess my brain meat is still functioning.

[hlthe2b]

1. Yes. But be careful doing so on a treadmill. It can be rather disorienting.

[woodsprite]

3. If you want to do that, it's best to use one with handrails.

They actually had me do that on a treadmill as part of my warm-up when I’ve done PT for my knee. The worst? Mounting and using the stair stepper backwards!

[Cracklin Charlie]

4. I'm gonna try it in my long hallway.

Sounds interesting.

[LiberalArkie]

5. Probably the safest way is using the elyptical machine

[LisaM]

9. I do this on the elliptical a lot.

It relieves the tedium, too, since I choose intervals where I go backwards instead of forward. Interestingly, those intervals always seem shorter.

[WestMichRad]

6. Walking on an uneven trail is also better...

… for you than walking on a smooth track. The uneven nature of a trail forces the brain to be more involved as you naturally make small adjustments to the varying terrain.

[nuxvomica]

7. IIRC, Yul Brynner walked backwards for exercise

And if you ever saw The King and I, he was in pretty good shape. Probably a good coordination exercise for people like actors and dancers, whose bodies are their instruments.

[Rebl2]

8. I have

watched football players run backwards and am amazed they can do that without running into someone. I am in my sixties with bad arthritis in my feet, so I won’t be running backwards, but I may try walking backwards holding on to something though in the beginning for safety.

[multigraincracker]

10. I run backwards sometimes on my jogs.

I find out about muscles I never knew I had. I do it on a track without others on it to be safe. You’ll get one hell of a workout, even at a very slow pace.

[womanofthehills]

11. Ben Patrick - the knees over toes guy recommends walking backwards

And many gyms have incorporated walking backwards pulling carts with weights into their routine.

I do it down my driveway- try to get in 100 steps a day . Patrick’s “Knee Ability Zero” has great knee exercises with photos. At his gym in Austin he said he has lots of classes for seniors to help them avoid knee surgery.