Walking backward holds health benefits

Walking backward holds health benefits


If you don’t think you’re getting as much as you can out of your morning walk, shift it into reverse. Health benefits might await.

A British exercise physiologist said in a recent essay that walking backward might actually be better for health than moving forward.

You won’t see many people out for neighborhood walks sauntering backward. It has obvious limitations. You can’t see where you’re going. It’s easier to lose your balance and fall. It takes practice. And it will confuse the heck out of your dog, to say nothing of your neighbors.

Yet, researchers say this retrograde movement makes our brains work harder by forcing more cooperation between the cerebral systems that control vision and balance. And doing so taxes muscles differently, making them stronger and, in some cases, more flexible.

One study notes that this improves our overall stability and balance. That might help healthy adults and those with conditions that interfere with confident movement, such as knee osteoarthritis.

For those with chronic lower back pain, researchers say walking backward strengthens muscles that support the lower lumbar spine.

The exercise physiologist even suggests the healthier among us might try backward running, once we’ve mastered walking in reverse.

It’s probably a good idea to consult a doctor first, especially if you’re physically infirm or have balance issues. There are many exercises to improve health without the risk of falling on your caboose.

But advocates say strolling astern has its perks — if you’re careful.

Just be sure to leave the dog at home if it pulls on a leash excitedly whenever it sees a squirrel. Or get a rearview mirror.

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