Walking backwards could improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce joint pain and increase focus. Here's what happened when one writer tried it every day for 30 days.

Walking backwards, or “retro walking” as fitness enthusiasts call it, sounds like the kind of gimmicky exercise trend that’ll disappear faster than your motivation to go to the gym.

On the surface, walking backward may seem silly or useless. Take a deeper look, though. It actually provides a number of perks for both your physical and mental well-being.

During the 19th Century, the activity of "retro-walking" was little more than an eccentric hobby, but today research is revealing it can have real benefits for your health and brain.

Walking backwards could improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce joint pain and increase focus. Here's what happened when one writer tried it every day for 30 days.

During the 19th Century, the activity of "retro-walking" was little more than an eccentric hobby, but today research is revealing it can have real benefits for your health and brain.

Walking backwards could improve cardiovascular fitness, reduce joint pain and increase focus. Here's what happened when one writer tried it every day for 30 days. Skip to main content.