Have you ever tried backwards walking? Not just a few steps, but purposefully / intentional backwards walking in your training?
During the 19th Century, "retro walking" was an in vogue hobby, but current studies have shown that it has many potential benefits.
* The American College of Sports Medicine found that reverse walking / backwards walking burns nearly 40% more calories than forward walking, 6.0METs vs 4.3METs (a MET measures how much energy your body uses during physical activity). AND Just like brisk forward walking, or a running program, backwards running boosts your cardiorespiratory fitness.
* Studies have shown that backwards walking builds more muscle than traditional walking, since it changes how the muscles across the hips and legs are engaged, and because of the novel stimulus, the muscles work harder.
* Retro-walking improves your balance, posture and gait. Research on elderly populations as well as post-stroke patients, has shown that balance and posture improves faster than in standing balance training, and gait and posture recovery results were more improved over 4 weeks.
* Reverse walking has been shown to increase flexibility (particularly in the hamstrings and lower back) and improves Range of Motion since it adds variance to your typical gait. It may also assist knee and ankle mobility and resilience, improving joint pain and posture.
* And on top of ALL of that: Backwards walking Challenges your brain, and increases prefrontal cortex activation and prevents exercise boredom, which can be beneficial to your mental health!
We have MANY high-quality treadmills to choose from. You can take a look online OR come into any store, and try them out!!
