by Julie O’Connor, Wayne State University
edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
Add as preferred source
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain
A collaborative team of researchers and students from Wayne State University’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Institute of Gerontology have studied the impact of a backward walking program on individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Their work, titled “Structural and Functional Changes With 8 Weeks of Backward Walking Training in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Series,” is published in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
The team led by Dr. Nora Fritz, director of research and professor in the Department of Health Care Sciences in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, conducted the study to determine whether backward walking training could improve mobility, balance and brain structure, and reduce the risk of falling. Participants were involved in eight weeks of treadmill and overground backward walking therapies.
“The results of this pilot trial indicated that backward walking training led to measurable improvements in postural stability and gait speed in a majority of those participating in the study,” said Fritz. “This suggests that backward walking may trigger positive physical adaptations.”
The authors indicated additional larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefits.
“This novel physical therapy intervention was designed to combat the progressive movement challenges associated with MS,” said Fritz. “We measured structural changes in the brain’s white matter in three brain regions—the body of the corpus callosum, the superior cerebellar peduncle, and the corticospinal tract.
“The results of this small trial suggest that this type of therapy may promote neuroplasticity in brain areas related to balance. Our next step is to conduct a larger trial to determine the potential impact this type of therapy may have on all MS patients.”
More information
Maryam M. Abbawi et al, Structural and Functional Changes With 8 Weeks of Backward Walking Training in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Series, Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy (2025). DOI: 10.1097/npt.0000000000000529
Key medical concepts
Multiple SclerosisNeuronal Plasticity
Clinical categories
NeurologyAllied healthFitness & Physical activityCommon illnesses & Prevention
Explore further
Backward walking speed reserve assessment offers improved clinical screening for risks and decline in MS patients
