Can Walking Backward Help with Arthritis Knee Pain?

Walking backward is a hot new fitness trend. Experts say that it helps reduce your risk for running injuries while mixing up your training routine. But can it help prevent or relieve the knee pain of osteoarthritis? here's what you need to know!

Walking Backward and Osteoarthritis Pain

When you're living with osteoarthritis knee pain, you may experience symptoms such pain, stiffness, swelling and limits on your range of motion. Now, many people will seek a medical procedure to relieve the discomfort of these symptoms. And, certainly, an intervention like Genicular Artery Embolization can relieve arthritis pain without the need for invasive knee replacement.

However, for those who are looking to manage their condition with lifestyle measures, walking backward may offer some important benefits, according to the experts. Why is that the case? When you walk backward, you use different muscles than when you propel yourself forward. Immediately, that can relieve some of the pressure on your sore, swollen joints.

Moreover, when you walk backward, you give more engagement to the quad muscles. This can stretch out the knee muscles, once again alleviating pain and also improving mobility. Finally, backward walking involves more thinking than moving forward, and this can help with balance and brain engagement as you age. Of course, this form of exercise can also come with a higher risk of tripping and falling. So you should practice the movement indoors, at a slow pace, and supervised by a friend or loved one to reduce your hazard risk.

When Walking Backward Doesn't Provide Enough Relief

If you're suffering from mild to moderate knee arthritis, lifestyle measures may provide sufficient pain relief. But if your condition is more severe, and you want relief without surgery, we encourage you to explore genicular artery embolization in Texas. Click here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointmentClick here to request an appointment!