Walking backwards

[StevieBee]

My OH has a recurring issue with her knee and leg. Nothing major, just occasionally painful and achey. My knees aren't the best either.

She saw something on TiKTok that suggested by walking backwards for 10 minutes a day can help. I thought this to be a load of bks but she and I gave it a go and you know what.... it works!

You look a pillock, of course. But if you have any recurring similar issue, give it a go!

[jonathan_roberts]

I’d recommend not taking advice from TikTok and going and seeing a physio for a treatment plan.

[tactical lizard]

I'm guessing she has seen Ben Patrick or knees over toes guy. I'm following his book when I can and definitely feel better after walking backwards

[StevieBee]

jonathan_roberts said:

I’d recommend not taking advice from TikTok and going and seeing a physio for a treatment plan.

The Tik Tok video my wife watched was from a Physio her friend had used.

[egomeister]

While I agree with the comment see a physio, I am also not surprised that it has helped.

Walking backwards will be strengthening things in a different way to what the body is used to. I'm sorting out some ankle issues at the moment and its really noticeable how different the stability I have is on the exercise where I step forward compared to stepping back.

[Slow.Patrol]

I have knee issues and this was an exercise recommended by my physio.

Even better if you can do it on an inclined treadmill. Walking backwards, uphill.

[dundarach]

StevieBee said:

jonathan_roberts said:

I’d recommend not taking advice from TikTok and going and seeing a physio for a treatment plan.

The Tik Tok video my wife watched was from a Physio her friend had used.

This only confirms my opinion about a lot of physio 'professionals'...

[jonathan_roberts]

The problem is that when you do things like this without a plan, then you risk creating other issues. It might be helping temporarily but it might also be creating other issues.

I still recommend spending some money on a physio.

[Monkeylegend]

jonathan_roberts said:

The problem is that when you do things like this without a plan, then you risk creating other issues. It might be helping temporarily but it might also be creating other issues.
.

Like walking into things and tripping over things

[Heathwood]

Knees will be the least of concerns when walking backwards in front of a bus

[boyse7en]

This video shows how walking backwards for part of the year can help your love life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e61uC-5s9VU

[Dingu]

dundarach said:

StevieBee said:

jonathan_roberts said:

I’d recommend not taking advice from TikTok and going and seeing a physio for a treatment plan.

The Tik Tok video my wife watched was from a Physio her friend had used.

This only confirms my opinion about a lot of physio 'professionals'...

Advertising such silly opinions is unfortunate.

[redrabbit29]

There's some fantastic resources online and physios. Knees over toes guys is one, Bob n Brad, HT Physio, AskDoctorJo.

There's quite a few at my gym who I see walking backwards on the treadmill. It's growing in popularity which is good, because it clearly has a lot of benefits and not just when you're having a slight niggle.

I am resistent to continual calls by people to "go to the physio". In my experience, every physio I have seen has been underwhelming. I'm sure some will say "well they're poor physios then" - but these are recommended by others, and also there are around 6 different ones.

I would say a big disclaimer here - that the issues I went there about were minor - as the OP suggests their other half is facing.

So many little minor issues that people face, can be resolved themselves. Not everything should need you to "run" or hobble to the physio. Strengthening is a great place to start, and walking backwards sounds good to me.

[egomeister]

redrabbit29 said:

There's some fantastic resources online and physios. Knees over toes guys is one, Bob n Brad, HT Physio, AskDoctorJo.

There's quite a few at my gym who I see walking backwards on the treadmill. It's growing in popularity which is good, because it clearly has a lot of benefits and not just when you're having a slight niggle.

I am resistent to continual calls by people to "go to the physio". In my experience, every physio I have seen has been underwhelming. I'm sure some will say "well they're poor physios then" - but these are recommended by others, and also there are around 6 different ones.

I would say a big disclaimer here - that the issues I went there about were minor - as the OP suggests their other half is facing.

So many little minor issues that people face, can be resolved themselves. Not everything should need you to "run" or hobble to the physio. Strengthening is a great place to start, and walking backwards sounds good to me.

Apart from the PT/ultrasonic work I have had done, everything the physio has done with me could have been done myself. However, the value for me is in the correct problems being identified appropriate exercises being proposed (and reviewed for efficacy). I don't really have the time or inclination to research and figure all that out myself. Maybe I have been lucky with my physio - she seems to listen to my feedback and actively manage progress.

You are bang on with strengthening being a great place to start. Modern inactive lifestyles leave a lot of areas of weakness that can be easily improved

[Slow.Patrol]

Another good exercise is seeing how long you can stand on one leg without touching anything for balance.

Obviously it is a good idea to be near a wall or counter just incase you do overbalance.

It's a good exercise to do while you're cooking the dinner and waiting for a pan to boil.

[Riley Blue]

Slow.Patrol said:

Another good exercise is seeing how long you can stand on one leg without touching anything for balance.

Obviously it is a good idea to be near a wall or counter just incase you do overbalance.

It's a good exercise to do while you're cooking the dinner and waiting for a pan to boil.

I'm struggling to think what is exercised by standing like a flamingo.

[redrabbit29]

egomeister said:

the value for me is in the correct problems being identified

Yea absolutely - that is really helpful. Once you know, you're not stuck guessing online between 100 different possibles.

Riley Blue said:

Slow.Patrol said:

Another good exercise is seeing how long you can stand on one leg without touching anything for balance.

Obviously it is a good idea to be near a wall or counter just incase you do overbalance.

It's a good exercise to do while you're cooking the dinner and waiting for a pan to boil.

I'm struggling to think what is exercised by standing like a flamingo.

Another good one is stand on one leg, join your hands and draw the alphabet out with your hands.

This really helps stabilisation muscles. Your feet (toes, plantar, ankles, achilles, arch), your tibialis, calf, knee, glutes, core, etc.

For runners and those who are active, it's really beneficial. You can also make it harder by standing on a bosu ball (one of those things with a flag bottom and a curved top). There are other variations.

[Digger]

Riley Blue said:

Slow.Patrol said:

Another good exercise is seeing how long you can stand on one leg without touching anything for balance.

Obviously it is a good idea to be near a wall or counter just incase you do overbalance.

It's a good exercise to do while you're cooking the dinner and waiting for a pan to boil.

I'm struggling to think what is exercised by standing like a flamingo.

Ankle muscles are constantly activated, so if you have an ankle that is regularly twisted & sprained the ligaments become longer & stretched, so this exercise works well, although best done on a more unstable surface such as standing on a duvet on a bed, or a balance/wobble board.

[redrabbit29]

Digger said:

Ankle muscles are constantly activated, so if you have an ankle that is regularly twisted & sprained the ligaments become longer & stretched, so this exercise works well, although best done on a more unstable surface such as standing on a duvet on a bed, or a balance/wobble board.

Back when I was running more, I twisted by ankle loads. I did those things I described above. I stood just on a flat ground but as you say, you can add wobbly things underneath you to make it harder.

Here's a video by James Dunne going through ankle exercises, including the Alphabet thing i was on about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24ih4Df1KgU

[popeyewhite]

Fad. If it helps in the short time, then fine. Then stop. Humans are designed to walk forwards, from the curvature of the spine, position of head, etc etc.