What is the benefit of walking backwards?
Back-to-front walking training can improve balance, gait speed and induce changes in brain structure in people with multiple sclerosis.
This is the conclusion reached by researchers at Wayne State University (USA), who presented the results of a pilot study in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
The work was carried out by an interdisciplinary team of scientists and students from several units of the university, including the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the School of Medicine, the Institute of Gerontology and the College of Humanities and Sciences. The study was led by Dr Nora Fritz, Professor and Director of Research in Health Sciences and Neuroscience.
Eight weeks of unusual training
The aim of the study was to find out whether walking backwards - on a treadmill and on a conventional surface - could improve mobility, stability and reduce the risk of falls in patients with multiple sclerosis. Participants underwent a specialised exercise programme for eight weeks.
According to Nora Fritz, most participants experienced measurable improvements:
postural stability improved,
increased walking speed,
improved movement control.
"The results of this pilot study show that back-to-front walking can trigger positive physical adaptations," Fritz notes.
Changes in the brain's white matter
In addition to functional indicators, the scientists studied structural changes in the brain. Using neuroimaging, they recorded changes in the white matter in three areas related to movement and balance:
the corpus callosum,
the superior cerebellar peduncle,
the corticospinal tract.
According to the authors, such changes may indicate neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to rewire and adapt in response to exercise, even in the face of chronic neurological disease.
"The results of this small study suggest that such therapy may stimulate neuroplasticity in areas of the brain responsible for balance," Fritz explains.
A step towards new methods of rehabilitation
The authors emphasise that the study is a pilot study and larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the method. Nevertheless, the findings point to the potential of a new, relatively simple approach to rehabilitation for patients with multiple sclerosis, who often develop gait and coordination problems over time.
The next step will be to conduct a large study to assess whether this type of therapy could be useful in a wider group of patients.