Why You Should Walk Backward To Transform Your Running




Ascrazy as it may sound, moving backward may be the key to healthy, efficient running. Not only does it improve your balance and gait health, but it will strengthen neglected muscles like the hamstrings and anterior tibialis. Furthermore, it serves as a clever modality for those rehabbing injuries from Achilles tears and ACL complications to knee osteoarthritis and hip pain.The beauty of this technique is that it’s physical literacy for adults. This goes for any movement that can be reversed. You’re retraining your brain and body to do something that doesn’t come naturally to you.

Whether you’re looking to get into running or you want to rehab a nagging injury, I encourage you to take this ‘moving backward’ philosophy to heart. It serves as a great screening test for beginners, and it’ll give more seasoned athletes the change of pace necessary to identify weak links in form and improve running health and longevity.Before getting into specific exercise cues, I want to briefly touch on some important safety measures. Firstly, if you have any diagnosed balance issues or chronic conditions that may put you at risk while doing backward movements, please talk to a trusted health provider before getting going.