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Does walking backwards really do anything to help your knees?

The good news: Physical therapist and founder ofHolisticDPT,Eni Kadar, DPT, CHN, Cert.

DN, says that Kunes might be onto something.

woman sweating in the gym

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It can also assist with increasing lower extremity strength, functional mobility, and gait mechanics after an injury.

Dr. Kadar says that the differences in the biomechanics are what makes walking backwards more beneficial to the knees.

However, these muscle contractions can potentially elicit knee pain.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

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Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

But changing the movement direction changes the muscle activation.

Inretrograde walking, you are landing on your toe first and then rolling off your heel, she says.

This can put less stress and compressive force on the knees.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

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So how does this decrease knee pain?

Backward walking can help restore some mobility.

Plus, she says it can improve hamstring flexibility, a common problem among those with knee pain.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

But it might feel awkward at first.

We dont walk around backwards throughout the day (hopefully)!

And always listen to your body and dont push through anything that doesnt feel right.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

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